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The Mortal Follies #2
Confounding Oaths
A nobleman must work with a dashing soldier to save his sister from a mystical bargain gone wrong, diving into a world of malicious fey, enigmatic cults, and treacherous magic in this irresistible romance from the bestselling author of Boyfriend Material.
The year is 1815, and Mr. John Caesar is determined to orchestrate a successful coming-out for his younger sister, Mary. Despite his best efforts, he is thwarted by the various interventions of a ragtag regiment of soldiers, a mysterious military cult, and a malicious fairy godmother.
When Mary is cursed by the fair folk, the dandyish Mr. Caesar is forced to work with the stolidly working-class—yet inescapably heroic—Captain James to rescue her. While Mr. Caesar is no stranger to dallying with soldiers, until now he's never expected one to stay. Or wanted one to. But even if the captain felt the same, there'd be no chance of anything lasting between them. After all, he and Mr. Caesar come from different worlds.
And lately, other worlds are the last thing either of them want to be dealing with . . .
The year is 1815, and Mr. John Caesar is determined to orchestrate a successful coming-out for his younger sister, Mary. Despite his best efforts, he is thwarted by the various interventions of a ragtag regiment of soldiers, a mysterious military cult, and a malicious fairy godmother.
When Mary is cursed by the fair folk, the dandyish Mr. Caesar is forced to work with the stolidly working-class—yet inescapably heroic—Captain James to rescue her. While Mr. Caesar is no stranger to dallying with soldiers, until now he's never expected one to stay. Or wanted one to. But even if the captain felt the same, there'd be no chance of anything lasting between them. After all, he and Mr. Caesar come from different worlds.
And lately, other worlds are the last thing either of them want to be dealing with . . .
448 pages, Paperback
First published August 27, 2024
118 people are currently reading
17.1k people want to read
About the author
Alexis Hall
55books14.4kfollowersOne of those intricate British queers.
Please note: I don’t read / reply to DMs. If you would like to get in touch, the best way is via email which you can find in the contact section on my website <3
Please note: I don’t read / reply to DMs. If you would like to get in touch, the best way is via email which you can find in the contact section on my website <3
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Shelved as 'dnf'
August 11, 2024DNF 21%.
I am going to preface this by acknowledging that this DNF is 100% based on my own tastes and that I haven’t found there to be anything wrong with the writing craft in this book and there seems to be plenty of positive reviews for it out there where other people had a better time than me.
Now, I have no real issues with insta-lust/insta- love books, but when the main couple hook up in a fade-to-black in the first 17% of the book with what was essentially a shrug and a ‘might as well� attitude, it kind of takes all of the tension and chemistry out of relationship for me and following that I just really struggled to care what was going on and I stopped enjoying picking up the book.
I am 100% a fantasy/historical queer romance girlie but this just wasn’t it for me.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC
I am going to preface this by acknowledging that this DNF is 100% based on my own tastes and that I haven’t found there to be anything wrong with the writing craft in this book and there seems to be plenty of positive reviews for it out there where other people had a better time than me.
Now, I have no real issues with insta-lust/insta- love books, but when the main couple hook up in a fade-to-black in the first 17% of the book with what was essentially a shrug and a ‘might as well� attitude, it kind of takes all of the tension and chemistry out of relationship for me and following that I just really struggled to care what was going on and I stopped enjoying picking up the book.
I am 100% a fantasy/historical queer romance girlie but this just wasn’t it for me.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC
Want to read
May 16, 2024this COVER
October 10, 2024
Received from Edelweiss, thanks!
*SLIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD!*
Oh, I really loved this one. I actually liked it more than I liked Mortal Follies. For me, personally, I liked the characters in this one more, Mr Caesar and Captain James, as well as the whole Caesar family. I also continue to be utterly delighted by Miss Bickle. My fingers are firmly crossed that Del Rey will have fallen in love with Miss Bickle as I have and offer to extend the contract so AJH can give her the happy ending she deserves (with the Ambassador from the Other Court, obvs).
This was another wild ride, in the same vein as Mortal Follies; the Old Gods getting up to all kinds of mischief in the mortal world. I absolutely adore how our narrator, Robin Goodfellow, narrates. It is the very best witty, snarky, cutting narration and it's just SO good. I was cackling to myself within the first couple of chapters, it's just that good. I also really appreciated how the narration allowed for this to be a closed door/fade to black romance.
One thing that I love about Alexis' books is that there are always layers and layers to whatever is being written. One somewhat offhand comment made by one of the villains sent me down a rabbit hole of Greek mythology and the Trojan War. I know this story fairly well, though wasn't familiar with a slightly more side story having to do with Agamemnon's daughter, Iphigenia. I'm sure there are likely other references throughout that I missed, but I thoroughly enjoyed falling down this particular rabbit hole.
I realize I've said next to nothing about the actual story! Oops! Basically, a fairy grants a wish to a mortal and then the rest of the book is spent trying to undo that wish, with varying success. I did really like conclusion of that story, I thought it was perfect. Throughout the book there are also questions of things like what does beauty mean and what makes someone beautiful, the differences between an officer and a gentleman, and how those who may live in the wrong part of town may just be the better people than those who society says are the better people (the rich, the titled, etc).
A thoroughly enjoyable read, yet again.
*SLIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD!*
Oh, I really loved this one. I actually liked it more than I liked Mortal Follies. For me, personally, I liked the characters in this one more, Mr Caesar and Captain James, as well as the whole Caesar family. I also continue to be utterly delighted by Miss Bickle. My fingers are firmly crossed that Del Rey will have fallen in love with Miss Bickle as I have and offer to extend the contract so AJH can give her the happy ending she deserves (with the Ambassador from the Other Court, obvs).
This was another wild ride, in the same vein as Mortal Follies; the Old Gods getting up to all kinds of mischief in the mortal world. I absolutely adore how our narrator, Robin Goodfellow, narrates. It is the very best witty, snarky, cutting narration and it's just SO good. I was cackling to myself within the first couple of chapters, it's just that good. I also really appreciated how the narration allowed for this to be a closed door/fade to black romance.
One thing that I love about Alexis' books is that there are always layers and layers to whatever is being written. One somewhat offhand comment made by one of the villains sent me down a rabbit hole of Greek mythology and the Trojan War. I know this story fairly well, though wasn't familiar with a slightly more side story having to do with Agamemnon's daughter, Iphigenia. I'm sure there are likely other references throughout that I missed, but I thoroughly enjoyed falling down this particular rabbit hole.
I realize I've said next to nothing about the actual story! Oops! Basically, a fairy grants a wish to a mortal and then the rest of the book is spent trying to undo that wish, with varying success. I did really like conclusion of that story, I thought it was perfect. Throughout the book there are also questions of things like what does beauty mean and what makes someone beautiful, the differences between an officer and a gentleman, and how those who may live in the wrong part of town may just be the better people than those who society says are the better people (the rich, the titled, etc).
A thoroughly enjoyable read, yet again.
August 12, 2024
Puck, the deliciously unreliable narrator of "Confounding Oaths" and its predecessor, "Mortal Follies," hopes we're reading "primarily for the cruelty," which is fair warning that the upcoming comedy will be well mixed with pain and bloodshed. (And also, since Puck is unreliable, that spritely narrators may not be quite as heartless as they'd have you believe.)
The Mortal Follies books are what you might call reality-based fantasy romances: the protagonist of this one, John Caesar, is of mixed race and also is the grandson of an earl, so he and his family are privileged while also being subjected to the expectable racist nonsense. John's love interest, the dashing Orestes James, is a captain in the British army -- but he didn't buy his commission, rather being elevated to his present rank because he saved Wellington's life. He grew up in the slums of St. Giles; plus, he's Black. So he has the privilege of rank and the -- un-privilege, let's say, of race and class.
The plot and the perils here are set in motion when John (ineffectually) punches a snotty, racist major for insulting his sister and thereby incurs the major's book-long thirst for vengeance. Meanwhile the sister, Miss Mary Caesar, who has been (equally ineffectually) trying to live up to a slender, straight-haired, fair-complexioned ideal, makes a fervent wish for beauty -- which is granted. At, of course, a deadly price.
Mind you, "Confounding Oaths" is very funny; it's also coldly clear-eyed about its themes. John Caesar isn't a bad person at the outset, but he's trying to be the elder brother who knows what's best for his sisters, and he doesn't quite see either Captain James or the captain's men as fully valuable in the way he and his family are valuable. It takes some time, some sharp words from Captain James, and some humbling events for him to change. And there is, eventually, a happy ending of sorts -- but, as Puck reminds us, life is precarious and a soldier's life especially so.
Though the love stories in the Mortal Follies books end well (for a given value of "end well") and the curses are undone, high prices are paid. Gods and fairies demand blood sacrifices. Our world also kills. For my money, both books are underrated, I suspect owing to the combination of pretty covers with genre expectations about supernatural romance. You don't have to read primarily for the cruelty, but plan on it. Plan on being unsettled.
Thanks to Random House / Del Rey and NetGalley for the ARC.
The Mortal Follies books are what you might call reality-based fantasy romances: the protagonist of this one, John Caesar, is of mixed race and also is the grandson of an earl, so he and his family are privileged while also being subjected to the expectable racist nonsense. John's love interest, the dashing Orestes James, is a captain in the British army -- but he didn't buy his commission, rather being elevated to his present rank because he saved Wellington's life. He grew up in the slums of St. Giles; plus, he's Black. So he has the privilege of rank and the -- un-privilege, let's say, of race and class.
The plot and the perils here are set in motion when John (ineffectually) punches a snotty, racist major for insulting his sister and thereby incurs the major's book-long thirst for vengeance. Meanwhile the sister, Miss Mary Caesar, who has been (equally ineffectually) trying to live up to a slender, straight-haired, fair-complexioned ideal, makes a fervent wish for beauty -- which is granted. At, of course, a deadly price.
Mind you, "Confounding Oaths" is very funny; it's also coldly clear-eyed about its themes. John Caesar isn't a bad person at the outset, but he's trying to be the elder brother who knows what's best for his sisters, and he doesn't quite see either Captain James or the captain's men as fully valuable in the way he and his family are valuable. It takes some time, some sharp words from Captain James, and some humbling events for him to change. And there is, eventually, a happy ending of sorts -- but, as Puck reminds us, life is precarious and a soldier's life especially so.
Though the love stories in the Mortal Follies books end well (for a given value of "end well") and the curses are undone, high prices are paid. Gods and fairies demand blood sacrifices. Our world also kills. For my money, both books are underrated, I suspect owing to the combination of pretty covers with genre expectations about supernatural romance. You don't have to read primarily for the cruelty, but plan on it. Plan on being unsettled.
Thanks to Random House / Del Rey and NetGalley for the ARC.
December 16, 2024
The narrative voice and Nneka Okoye, the narrator voice, are five stars in this. Also, Miss Bickle will always be five stars for me (as our narrator says, she has narrative fitness and I very much agree!). The hobgoblin Puck is hilarious, self-aware, wink-wink, doing really good social and political commentary, while being a total sycophant whenever they reference their king Oberon.
However, the rest of it didn't really work for me. I don't mind that this isn't a typical romance (the first book wasn't one either), but the romantic plot felt a bit... non-descript for me. And the other plot, which could be considered the central plot, about a deal with the fairies gone wrong took a long time to get going to an interesting place.
But I have a theory why this didn't really work for me, even if I know that Alexis Hall is able to make me sob and love his characters so much: I think the main fault is in that brilliant narrative voice. It's so powerful, so well-developed, so funny, that it completely takes over everything else. I feel like the other elements of the book don't have room to breathe usually, because there is this highly specific narrator kinda filtering everything for us. And it's almost like a bird's eye view (sometimes literally, as the narrator sometimes takes the shape of a bird) that didn't let me get too close to anyone. Except for Miss Bickle, of course, who feels so alive and fun and lovely. And who actually uses Jane Austen plots to sway a young person away from a dangerous suitor!
I will keep going with the series though (hope we get a Miss Bickle book, fingers crossed), I still had quite a bit of fun listening to this!
However, the rest of it didn't really work for me. I don't mind that this isn't a typical romance (the first book wasn't one either), but the romantic plot felt a bit... non-descript for me. And the other plot, which could be considered the central plot, about a deal with the fairies gone wrong took a long time to get going to an interesting place.
But I have a theory why this didn't really work for me, even if I know that Alexis Hall is able to make me sob and love his characters so much: I think the main fault is in that brilliant narrative voice. It's so powerful, so well-developed, so funny, that it completely takes over everything else. I feel like the other elements of the book don't have room to breathe usually, because there is this highly specific narrator kinda filtering everything for us. And it's almost like a bird's eye view (sometimes literally, as the narrator sometimes takes the shape of a bird) that didn't let me get too close to anyone. Except for Miss Bickle, of course, who feels so alive and fun and lovely. And who actually uses Jane Austen plots to sway a young person away from a dangerous suitor!
I will keep going with the series though (hope we get a Miss Bickle book, fingers crossed), I still had quite a bit of fun listening to this!
January 20, 2025
all the same wit and satirical humor as the first book
September 23, 2024
Unfortunately--and surprisingly--I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first book. I found the main characters to be largely unlikable and annoying, and the romance was tepid at best--this was much more plot-focused than romance-focuses and for a book billed as romance, I want more of an even split. I did think, unlike the first book, the plots here overall felt more organically entertwined, I just... really didn't care. I should have, but somehow the author managed to endear absolutely none of the characters to me. Even Miss Bickle, who I remember loving in the first book, started to grate on my nerves. The anachronisms--normally not a thing that bothers me--kept throwing me out of the story, and the whole thing just fell really flat. I've been off Hall's recent works for some time, but since I actually enjoyed book 1, I really expected this would be a hit, but I just really don't think this author is writing to my taste anymore, which is a real shame.
September 1, 2024
Finally, we have an Alexis Hall book that didn't make me cry. It only made me smile and chuckle and annoy people with pictures of the seeminlgy endless number of my favorite passages. I only hope dear Robin has a good many tales od mischief to relate to his humble readers.
But please do read the author's note and content warning at the beginning. And, if you love horses, skip chapter 21.
But please do read the author's note and content warning at the beginning. And, if you love horses, skip chapter 21.
July 12, 2024
(Thanks Netgalley and Hachette Australia and NZ for the review copy.)
I’m one hundred per cent enchanted. Review to follow, once the fairy dust has cleared.
Right, here we go: I’m brushing aside the glittery cobwebs and shaking off the fairy dust as I make my way back to reality after immersion in this thoroughly enchanting romp.
Robin Goodfellow (banished from Oberon’s court, stuck in the 21st century, and forced to work—write novels—for a living) is back with another captivating yarn for us. Robin knows we love stories about the regency, so this is one from 1815 and is 100 per cent true and not made up, Robin takes great pains to show us how he witnesses everything that happened. (You might, if you haven’t already, want to read Mortal Follies first, even though they are strictly speaking stand alone. Robin would certainly like you to.)
It’s ostensibly about the trials of the Caesar family—events kick off at a society ball when young Mr Caesar’s sister Mary is insulted about the colour of her skin, and Mr Caesar (very incompetently) punches the insulter in the face, setting off a train of events, not least being rescued by a handsome captain, a duel at dawn, and almost being sacrificed to the river by a Mithraic cult. Mary Caesar meanwhile, wishes she was beautiful in the hearing of a fairy, is turned into an irresistibly enchanting living statue made of glass and light. This, as you might guess, does not go well, and a visit to Titania’s realm is required to bring her back. A delightful romance between Mr Caesar and the handsome Captain James moves things along nicely too.
If this sounds bonkers and complicated that’s because it is, and that’s just the plot. Well. Some of the plot. For me the sheer delight of the book is the sweet crumbly mille feuille of layers of narration—the way Robin lets us fall into the narrative, reels us back, tells us what he’s doing (reminding us constantly that he’s trustworthy, never lies and never helps events along) then throws us back in again. While praising Oberon whenever he gets a moment. (I’m such a sucker for story that’s about storytelling as much as anything else.) Also, he has *really* got it in for Shakespeare and takes every opportunity to have a dig at ‘that bastard Bill�, that ‘son of a glover�. Which I do find highly amusing. Puts a whole new light on the Shakespeare authorship question—maybe some of WS’s plays *were* written by one of his characters, who am I to say?
Meanwhile it’s delightful to see the return of our beloved Miss Bickle from Mortal Follies, giving ‘off with the fairies� her own particular vibe. Vague and tending not to live quite in the same world as everyone else, it turns out she has a special kind of wisdom all her own. (Also it seems she has single handedly invented fanfic, particularly around the work of The Anonymous Lady Author of Sense and Sensibility. Which is pretty funny.)
While all these shenanigans around authorship and narrative and veracity and trustworthiness do have a certain distancing effect between reader and character, we still get some beautifully moving moments when characters make life- and love-affirming decisions (which I won’t go into because I don’t want to spoil anything.) BUT
.
[MINOR SPOILER]
.
.
.
.
(It’s so good when the bad guy literally gets eaten by a bear.)
I’m one hundred per cent enchanted. Review to follow, once the fairy dust has cleared.
Right, here we go: I’m brushing aside the glittery cobwebs and shaking off the fairy dust as I make my way back to reality after immersion in this thoroughly enchanting romp.
Robin Goodfellow (banished from Oberon’s court, stuck in the 21st century, and forced to work—write novels—for a living) is back with another captivating yarn for us. Robin knows we love stories about the regency, so this is one from 1815 and is 100 per cent true and not made up, Robin takes great pains to show us how he witnesses everything that happened. (You might, if you haven’t already, want to read Mortal Follies first, even though they are strictly speaking stand alone. Robin would certainly like you to.)
It’s ostensibly about the trials of the Caesar family—events kick off at a society ball when young Mr Caesar’s sister Mary is insulted about the colour of her skin, and Mr Caesar (very incompetently) punches the insulter in the face, setting off a train of events, not least being rescued by a handsome captain, a duel at dawn, and almost being sacrificed to the river by a Mithraic cult. Mary Caesar meanwhile, wishes she was beautiful in the hearing of a fairy, is turned into an irresistibly enchanting living statue made of glass and light. This, as you might guess, does not go well, and a visit to Titania’s realm is required to bring her back. A delightful romance between Mr Caesar and the handsome Captain James moves things along nicely too.
If this sounds bonkers and complicated that’s because it is, and that’s just the plot. Well. Some of the plot. For me the sheer delight of the book is the sweet crumbly mille feuille of layers of narration—the way Robin lets us fall into the narrative, reels us back, tells us what he’s doing (reminding us constantly that he’s trustworthy, never lies and never helps events along) then throws us back in again. While praising Oberon whenever he gets a moment. (I’m such a sucker for story that’s about storytelling as much as anything else.) Also, he has *really* got it in for Shakespeare and takes every opportunity to have a dig at ‘that bastard Bill�, that ‘son of a glover�. Which I do find highly amusing. Puts a whole new light on the Shakespeare authorship question—maybe some of WS’s plays *were* written by one of his characters, who am I to say?
Meanwhile it’s delightful to see the return of our beloved Miss Bickle from Mortal Follies, giving ‘off with the fairies� her own particular vibe. Vague and tending not to live quite in the same world as everyone else, it turns out she has a special kind of wisdom all her own. (Also it seems she has single handedly invented fanfic, particularly around the work of The Anonymous Lady Author of Sense and Sensibility. Which is pretty funny.)
While all these shenanigans around authorship and narrative and veracity and trustworthiness do have a certain distancing effect between reader and character, we still get some beautifully moving moments when characters make life- and love-affirming decisions (which I won’t go into because I don’t want to spoil anything.) BUT
.
[MINOR SPOILER]
.
.
.
.
(It’s so good when the bad guy literally gets eaten by a bear.)
January 7, 2025
I loved this!! Robin Goodfellow is quite the narrator, and to be honest his character comes through so strongly that everyone else in the story feels held at arms-length most of the time. But he's hilarious so I can look past that. And the other characters are wonderful even at a distance. I am still dying from Robin's comment that John's major achievement in life was figuring out how to put on his very tight trousers without creasing them.
--
Ok, now I’m finished with Mortal Follies and I am stoked for this!!
�
I’m not even finished with Mortal Follies but I am already excited for more in this Regency meets pagan antiquity world!!!
--
Ok, now I’m finished with Mortal Follies and I am stoked for this!!
�
I’m not even finished with Mortal Follies but I am already excited for more in this Regency meets pagan antiquity world!!!
July 20, 2024
I really liked this sequel to Mortal Follies. Books set in the same universe with familiar characters popping up is one of my favorite things. This focusses primarily on Mr. Caesar, his parents and his two teen sisters Miss Caeser and Miss Mary, but Miss Bickle, Georgiana & Maelys show up in this one too. Mr Caeser is a mixed race member of the ton who is rescued by the dashing Captain Orestes James, a black military man. He befriends the Captain and his merry band of friends called The Irregulars. Mr Caeser and the Captain have a sweet romance, but the romance is toned down in this story. It’s the chaos of magic gone wrong as narrated by our favorite sassy narrator Robin which really shines.
Lady, a fairy from a different court as Robin, appears at a ball and grants Miss Caeser’s wish to be beautiful. Only she turns into a beautiful irridescent glass statue that reflects light in a most beguiling way to everyone around her. When Miss Caeser’s legs and arms start cracking she realizes she doesn’t want to be like that anymore and the family & friends embark on a mission to break the spell. It’s loads of fun! I liked the themes of class differences, mixed race relationships in the ton, what beauty is, that there’s strength and power in being yourself, realizing you’re not alone in the world and not taking your loved ones for granted. Hall’s ability to blend All The ThingsTM together effortlessly remains unmatched.
There were lots of little details that made me laugh. Miss Bickle has a bookclub with her friends she calls the “Avidreaderdom� since “bookclub� is not a word that exists then. There’s a recurring bit with Robin explaining that phrases sounding like euphemisms are not euphemisms. And of course I love all the things Robin morphs into in order to spy on everyone: mist, a bee, a spider, a dog, sunlight, etc. It was endlessly funny.
**Thanks to NetGalley & DelRey for the ARC***
Lady, a fairy from a different court as Robin, appears at a ball and grants Miss Caeser’s wish to be beautiful. Only she turns into a beautiful irridescent glass statue that reflects light in a most beguiling way to everyone around her. When Miss Caeser’s legs and arms start cracking she realizes she doesn’t want to be like that anymore and the family & friends embark on a mission to break the spell. It’s loads of fun! I liked the themes of class differences, mixed race relationships in the ton, what beauty is, that there’s strength and power in being yourself, realizing you’re not alone in the world and not taking your loved ones for granted. Hall’s ability to blend All The ThingsTM together effortlessly remains unmatched.
There were lots of little details that made me laugh. Miss Bickle has a bookclub with her friends she calls the “Avidreaderdom� since “bookclub� is not a word that exists then. There’s a recurring bit with Robin explaining that phrases sounding like euphemisms are not euphemisms. And of course I love all the things Robin morphs into in order to spy on everyone: mist, a bee, a spider, a dog, sunlight, etc. It was endlessly funny.
**Thanks to NetGalley & DelRey for the ARC***
September 25, 2024
I never expect I'll have to say this about an Alexis Hall book, but this did not work for me at all. The writing style is still as fun as in Mortal Follies, but it completely overshadows and distracts from the characters and the story, so much so that I could barely tell some of the characters apart and I found myself zoning out all the time. I expect there will be a sequel to this, but I'm not sure I'll read it.
August 6, 2024
Disclaimer: I received a review copy for free via Netgalley, and am voluntarily leaving my honest thoughts. Many thanks to Del Rey for the opportunity!
3.5 rounded down. Opposite to my experience with , I kind of liked the romance here, but felt just about everything could've been better in a way? Like, it's not that the narrative was boring, but I feel like there could've been better picked scenes that played out. Robin is a focused storyteller indeed, but because he skips out on giving us detail about things, it's hard to really get invested with any of the characters in the deeper way that I want.
That being said, Miss Bickle remains my highlight of the series because how could you not love her, truly? 😂 I did like the dynamic between John and Captain James for what we did get, and feel the overall arc of the bigger narrative made sense for the type of plot we got. The new cast that we get here and the cameos from Mortal Follies added fun flavor as well! Getting to explore a variety themes with class, race, and overall society while also throwing in the magic and many references was really well-balanced on Alexis's part!
If Alexis gives us a Miss Bickle book, I'll be the happiest camper. But at the same time, this feels complete as well.
3.5 rounded down. Opposite to my experience with , I kind of liked the romance here, but felt just about everything could've been better in a way? Like, it's not that the narrative was boring, but I feel like there could've been better picked scenes that played out. Robin is a focused storyteller indeed, but because he skips out on giving us detail about things, it's hard to really get invested with any of the characters in the deeper way that I want.
That being said, Miss Bickle remains my highlight of the series because how could you not love her, truly? 😂 I did like the dynamic between John and Captain James for what we did get, and feel the overall arc of the bigger narrative made sense for the type of plot we got. The new cast that we get here and the cameos from Mortal Follies added fun flavor as well! Getting to explore a variety themes with class, race, and overall society while also throwing in the magic and many references was really well-balanced on Alexis's part!
If Alexis gives us a Miss Bickle book, I'll be the happiest camper. But at the same time, this feels complete as well.
Read
July 31, 2024A story about being careful what you wish for, coming into yourself, and well-chosen names, Confounding Oaths is as technically brilliant as it is a wonder to behold. More fantasy than romance, but the romance didn't feel diminished despite being one of many plot lines. Most importantly, there's Miss Bickles’s fanfic society. Then there's a story about fairies taking advantage of Miss Caesar’s wish. Patriarchy compelling sisters to squabble. The societal consequences of colonialism and vice versa. Cults. And, of course, the ongoing meta commentary narrators, dead authors, and fourth walls.
The alliteration serves the humor and emphasizes just the right moments. The foreshadowing adds enough zhuzh to keep you interested in the overarching plots without detracting from the journey or spoiling the fun. The voice is sublime. Robin is tired and not a little stressed, and the early flippancy reflects that. It borders on the edge of irritating, but Robin is irritated. As the story shifts and consumes, the voice keeps pace (with a few asides to poke at playwrights and, ahem, mortal follies).
In a world where narrative is surer than gravity, wordplay abounds, and the garden paths are enchanting. I giggled a lot and as often reacted with gleeful recognition at foreshadowing come true.
But ultimately, as with everything AJH writes, the book is kind. Miss Bickle remains an absolute delight, and the cast of Irregulars adds Hall’s typical (and appreciated) friendship textures. The characters are kinder than they should be given *gestures broadly*, and Robin is kinder than he seems. I wish them all well.
Spoiler:
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc
The alliteration serves the humor and emphasizes just the right moments. The foreshadowing adds enough zhuzh to keep you interested in the overarching plots without detracting from the journey or spoiling the fun. The voice is sublime. Robin is tired and not a little stressed, and the early flippancy reflects that. It borders on the edge of irritating, but Robin is irritated. As the story shifts and consumes, the voice keeps pace (with a few asides to poke at playwrights and, ahem, mortal follies).
In a world where narrative is surer than gravity, wordplay abounds, and the garden paths are enchanting. I giggled a lot and as often reacted with gleeful recognition at foreshadowing come true.
But ultimately, as with everything AJH writes, the book is kind. Miss Bickle remains an absolute delight, and the cast of Irregulars adds Hall’s typical (and appreciated) friendship textures. The characters are kinder than they should be given *gestures broadly*, and Robin is kinder than he seems. I wish them all well.
Spoiler:
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc
August 19, 2024
I think I'm just not the right reader for this book. There were definitely aspects I enjoyed. There were lines that made me grin, plenty of clever writing, and some plot elements I really liked. Unfortunately the way it was written I never felt fully engaged. Even the plot points that I felt some excitement over never fully grabbed me, partly because of the pacing and partly because of the disengaged nature of the narrator. I did like the narrator, they brought a lot of humor to the book, but because of that distance from the characters, I never felt any emotion while reading. Since I never felt really engaged I ended up bored during large chunks. If you're looking for fantasy that's witty and a bit cutting, this might be your cup of tea. It just wasn't mine.
*ARC provided by NetGalley
*ARC provided by NetGalley
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November 18, 2024somebody give nneka okoye an award of some kind, because she is carrying this series on her back, to be frank!
did I like this more than or less than mortal follies? impossible to say. I think maybe more, but I can't identify any concrete reasons as to why? (plus, I gave mortal follies 4 stars, and I balk at the idea of this getting 5, although I'm not sure what the 'correct' star rating is. I am a fickle beast. definitely on the positive half of things, though!) the romance is no better than in mortal follies; indeed, miss caesar is almost more the central character than is her brother, romantic lead though he is. and yet, these might be approaching my favorite alexis hall books? not that it's a particularly close race; if you look at my scattered thoughts across all my reviews of various ajh books you can see the fraught relationship he and I have had, lol. honestly, I think it's just that I have a good time hanging out with nneka-okoye-as-puck, which is still quite funny given just how much I hated puck's narration in print. so you see what I mean about okoye being the heart and soul of these books for me...
orrrrrr maybe the "how will I reconcile my 21st-century outlook with my 19th-century setting" approach worked better for me here than in mortal follies? again, not one hundo p as to why exactly; perhaps just exposure making the heart grow fonder lmao but the whole "no ethical consumerism under colonialism" schtick charmed me more here.
or! maybe! it's just that this is among the first ajh series where my opinion has stayed consistent across multiple books, lol, given my track record (i.e., kind of hating paris daillencourt after loving rosaline palmer, finding husband material something of a waste but then being drawn back in by 10 things that never happened, only really liking one each from the prosperity and spires series, etc. etc. etc.). consistent "yeah it was a pretty good time" beats out wild peaks and troughs for me, I guess! something something the tortoise and the hare?
still needed more miss bickle tho
did I like this more than or less than mortal follies? impossible to say. I think maybe more, but I can't identify any concrete reasons as to why? (plus, I gave mortal follies 4 stars, and I balk at the idea of this getting 5, although I'm not sure what the 'correct' star rating is. I am a fickle beast. definitely on the positive half of things, though!) the romance is no better than in mortal follies; indeed, miss caesar is almost more the central character than is her brother, romantic lead though he is. and yet, these might be approaching my favorite alexis hall books? not that it's a particularly close race; if you look at my scattered thoughts across all my reviews of various ajh books you can see the fraught relationship he and I have had, lol. honestly, I think it's just that I have a good time hanging out with nneka-okoye-as-puck, which is still quite funny given just how much I hated puck's narration in print. so you see what I mean about okoye being the heart and soul of these books for me...
orrrrrr maybe the "how will I reconcile my 21st-century outlook with my 19th-century setting" approach worked better for me here than in mortal follies? again, not one hundo p as to why exactly; perhaps just exposure making the heart grow fonder lmao but the whole "no ethical consumerism under colonialism" schtick charmed me more here.
or! maybe! it's just that this is among the first ajh series where my opinion has stayed consistent across multiple books, lol, given my track record (i.e., kind of hating paris daillencourt after loving rosaline palmer, finding husband material something of a waste but then being drawn back in by 10 things that never happened, only really liking one each from the prosperity and spires series, etc. etc. etc.). consistent "yeah it was a pretty good time" beats out wild peaks and troughs for me, I guess! something something the tortoise and the hare?
still needed more miss bickle tho
May 1, 2025
4.5 stars. Just like the first time that I read Mortal Follies this one I already know will benefit greatly from a reread. I loved it, don’t get me wrong this series is a damn good time and so funny but it wasn’t a five star for me. Close though. I don’t know if these are the only two books planned for this series but I hope not because I love them and wouldn’t mind more. I’m already looking forwards to reading this one again.
February 11, 2025
First, a thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an eARC of this book.
This was a fun read - same cadence, same character and feel as Mortal Follies. But I m one just didn’t resonate the same for me as Mortal Follies did.
I would still read more from Hall, but this wasn’t as much of a slam dunk for me.
This was a fun read - same cadence, same character and feel as Mortal Follies. But I m one just didn’t resonate the same for me as Mortal Follies did.
I would still read more from Hall, but this wasn’t as much of a slam dunk for me.
August 23, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley, Hachette Australia & New Zealand, and Alexis Hall (and the true author, Robin Goodfellow, of course) for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars, rounded up.
I would like you, dear reader, to note that this rounded score is not influenced by any undisclosed agreements struck with the constituents of the Other Court, nor is it the result of an opinion formed under pressure from external threats from otherworldly entities, as such assertions would constitute slander and libel. Rather, this score has been rounded up to align with other 4.5-star reviews that chose to round down. I ask you to remember, reader, that the Other Court is always benevolent and generous to us mere mortals, and we should truly be grateful that Robin Goodfellow graciously chose to sully himself by penning this remarkable book for our benefit.
And what a book it is.
To those of you familiar with Robin's previous work (), you will recognise the familiar penmanship and humour found within Confounding Oaths. As always, Robin expertly weaves intrigue and conflict into his stories with the kind of competence we've come to expect from the good folk. However, what you might find new here is how much Robin's documenting of "unimportant information" (see: character development) has improved. Confounding Oaths contained multitudes of characters, some familiar (John Caesar, Lysistrata Bickle, and brief cameos from Robin's previous subject, Maelys and Georgiana), and others brand new. And while, on the surface, it seems to be another romance-oriented book, at its core, Confounding Oaths is underpinned by a deeper narrative; that of found family.
On a personal level, I found this book to be even more enjoyable than , as the subject chosen by Robin this time was someone I found particularly compelling: John Caesar. This lover of cravats really went through it during Confounding Oaths, in a manner that all eldest siblings are likely to find entirely too relatable. The romance was solid, the pacing was clever, the multiple plot strands were interesting, and the ending was satisfying.
Overall, this is a book I will be recommending to all of my mortal friends, as I truly believe it will enlighten us as a species and provide a sense of enrichment to our brief and meagre lives.
Robin, I wish you luck in regaining your master's favour. However, I would be more than willing to seek out your next book should you require additional income in the interim.
4.5 stars, rounded up.
I would like you, dear reader, to note that this rounded score is not influenced by any undisclosed agreements struck with the constituents of the Other Court, nor is it the result of an opinion formed under pressure from external threats from otherworldly entities, as such assertions would constitute slander and libel. Rather, this score has been rounded up to align with other 4.5-star reviews that chose to round down. I ask you to remember, reader, that the Other Court is always benevolent and generous to us mere mortals, and we should truly be grateful that Robin Goodfellow graciously chose to sully himself by penning this remarkable book for our benefit.
And what a book it is.
To those of you familiar with Robin's previous work (), you will recognise the familiar penmanship and humour found within Confounding Oaths. As always, Robin expertly weaves intrigue and conflict into his stories with the kind of competence we've come to expect from the good folk. However, what you might find new here is how much Robin's documenting of "unimportant information" (see: character development) has improved. Confounding Oaths contained multitudes of characters, some familiar (John Caesar, Lysistrata Bickle, and brief cameos from Robin's previous subject, Maelys and Georgiana), and others brand new. And while, on the surface, it seems to be another romance-oriented book, at its core, Confounding Oaths is underpinned by a deeper narrative; that of found family.
On a personal level, I found this book to be even more enjoyable than , as the subject chosen by Robin this time was someone I found particularly compelling: John Caesar. This lover of cravats really went through it during Confounding Oaths, in a manner that all eldest siblings are likely to find entirely too relatable. The romance was solid, the pacing was clever, the multiple plot strands were interesting, and the ending was satisfying.
Overall, this is a book I will be recommending to all of my mortal friends, as I truly believe it will enlighten us as a species and provide a sense of enrichment to our brief and meagre lives.
Robin, I wish you luck in regaining your master's favour. However, I would be more than willing to seek out your next book should you require additional income in the interim.
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August 24, 2024Confounding Oaths really feels to me like it's pushing back a bit on romance genre expectations and I am here for it. I'm so used to romance novels being centered around desire and physical attraction and all the other things that give the reader stomach swoops and swoony feels. The physical attraction between John Caesar and Orestes James is established early on but from there we get a story that is about deepening feelings for another person based on their character and actions. Expressions of kindness and care that aren't romantic per se but are the foundations of a good partner, and that push you to be a better person. It's not that the physical component isn't present, it's just off-page - in part because the narrator is uninterested in human bodies but also because John and Orestes are rarely alone.
The portrayal of John and Orestes romance dovetails beautifully with the themes of the main plot. John's younger sister Mary wishes to be beautiful and a fairy grants that wish by turning her into glass. The Caesars and Orestes and his band of Irregulars all work together to get Mary restores to human form, at first against Mary's wishes because she enjoys feeling beautiful and the attention it gets her. But ultimately she realizes that she wants men to feel attracted to her for who she is and not solely for her appearance. I was very sympathetic to Mary and her journey was moving to me. The dynamic between Mary and her younger sister Anne rang very true, and the growth of their relationship over the course of the novel was heartwarming.
All in all, I enjoyed Confounding Oaths and am crossing my fingers for a third book in this series with Miss Bickle and/or Miss Penworthy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House / Del Rey for the ARC!
The portrayal of John and Orestes romance dovetails beautifully with the themes of the main plot. John's younger sister Mary wishes to be beautiful and a fairy grants that wish by turning her into glass. The Caesars and Orestes and his band of Irregulars all work together to get Mary restores to human form, at first against Mary's wishes because she enjoys feeling beautiful and the attention it gets her. But ultimately she realizes that she wants men to feel attracted to her for who she is and not solely for her appearance. I was very sympathetic to Mary and her journey was moving to me. The dynamic between Mary and her younger sister Anne rang very true, and the growth of their relationship over the course of the novel was heartwarming.
All in all, I enjoyed Confounding Oaths and am crossing my fingers for a third book in this series with Miss Bickle and/or Miss Penworthy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House / Del Rey for the ARC!
June 23, 2024
This book is a sequel to Mortal Follies. It has the same narrator and framing mechanism as the first one and if you didn’t like it then, you probably won’t like it now. I didn’t like it then but was willing to give it a second try. I liked this book more but still would have liked it more without the framing mechanism. However, I liked the characters a lot more in this one and Mr. Caesar, his parents and his two teen sisters are fun to read about. Mr. Caesar care deeply around the people around him and that is nice to see. The romance is very secondary and why I rounded down on 3.5 stars as it is hard to see it develop in the book. This is framed a Cinderella retelling with the fae being horrible and “cursing� Mary, Caesar’s sister. There are some very nicely done messages on race and class throughout, but some are a little direct if you prefer your books to let the reader figure things out for themselves more. All in all, a delightful read and others seem to find Robin less annoying and subtracting from the story so readers who liked the first one are likely to like this one too.
September 12, 2024
This is a 3.5, probably would have been closer to 4 if I had been listening to the audiobook, since I think that’s why I enjoyed the first of these so much. It was good? But also something of a let down? Firstly, not NEARLY enough of my queen Miss Bickle- real travesty there. & every other character felt sort of flat/one dimensional. I liked them all, especially the Irregulars, but was there more to Captain James than being attractive and a soldier? More to John than being a good brother & vaguely having feelings about being mixed race? More to Miss Caesar than having similar feelings & also being sad she isn’t as pretty? & like the first one, it got draggy. The style itself is great, & I can tell it’s trying to Say Something, but I fear I will forget this book almost instantly, which is too bad bc I generally love AJH’s books, but, to borrow a phrase from that horrid man from Stratford, this series feels like a lot of much ado about nothing.
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May 21, 2024ARC - review to come but spoiler:
I continue to be an avid reader of Puck's scribbles
I continue to be an avid reader of Puck's scribbles
December 31, 2024
I need to admit that I may be entirely biased on this one. My research in grad school centered quite a bit on English literature, so when I first read Hall’s Boyfriend Material book, I knew I’d thoroughly enjoy the humor in it. This is my third book by Hall, and like the first two, I enjoyed the dark and witty humor in this story. The characters had me loving and hating them almost in equal measure, which I typically find is my preferred love/hate ratio? Maybe that’s just a me thing.
The novel is the second in the Mortal Follies series (I totally, but accidentally, skipped the first one—I didn’t do my research and simply went: “oooh! Pretty cover! and Alexis Hall! Sign me up!� I know. I should do my due diligence but oh well). Anyway, the novel is written from a fairy’s perspective as they observe the Caesar family. John, the oldest Caesar sibling, is attempting to protect and guide his oldest sister into an advantageous marriage, but Mary has trouble attracting the attention of men (the men courting in this novel are terrible honestly and I like how Hall treats this discussion throughout the book). After striking a deal with a different fairy (not the narrator), Mary becomes beautiful, yes, but she’s made of glass. It’s a whole be careful what you wish for saga, but it’s beautifully written and addresses each character’s arch with the care and whole-picture perspective that many writers attempt. I’m a fan of Hall’s writing, as I mentioned above, but I sincerely think his approach to storytelling is one that allows readers to understand characters deeply, leave room for disagreement, but understand their flaws and appreciate them.
Through the entire ordeal, we get John’s love story with Captain Orestes too. While I know they’re the main couple, Hall didn’t really center them as the main protagonists. We do get to see a fair amount of their love story, but I’d argue that this novel centers the family’s story more than the romance. Despite that, it’s a lovely novel, and wonderfully silly and hilarious. I’ll be reading book 1 next (since I skipped it cause I didn’t do my research beforehand 😅)
The novel is the second in the Mortal Follies series (I totally, but accidentally, skipped the first one—I didn’t do my research and simply went: “oooh! Pretty cover! and Alexis Hall! Sign me up!� I know. I should do my due diligence but oh well). Anyway, the novel is written from a fairy’s perspective as they observe the Caesar family. John, the oldest Caesar sibling, is attempting to protect and guide his oldest sister into an advantageous marriage, but Mary has trouble attracting the attention of men (the men courting in this novel are terrible honestly and I like how Hall treats this discussion throughout the book). After striking a deal with a different fairy (not the narrator), Mary becomes beautiful, yes, but she’s made of glass. It’s a whole be careful what you wish for saga, but it’s beautifully written and addresses each character’s arch with the care and whole-picture perspective that many writers attempt. I’m a fan of Hall’s writing, as I mentioned above, but I sincerely think his approach to storytelling is one that allows readers to understand characters deeply, leave room for disagreement, but understand their flaws and appreciate them.
Through the entire ordeal, we get John’s love story with Captain Orestes too. While I know they’re the main couple, Hall didn’t really center them as the main protagonists. We do get to see a fair amount of their love story, but I’d argue that this novel centers the family’s story more than the romance. Despite that, it’s a lovely novel, and wonderfully silly and hilarious. I’ll be reading book 1 next (since I skipped it cause I didn’t do my research beforehand 😅)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2024
“Confounding Oaths� is the second book in the Mortal Follies historical fiction series by Alexis Hall. “Mortal Follies,� the first book, was a 5-star read for me so I had high hopes for this one, and it did not disappoint. Five stars! Read this series!
The main story focuses on John Caesar and his two sisters, Mary and Annie. It’s 1815, and the Caesar siblings aren’t fully accepted by society since their father is Black and their mother is white. James wants his sisters happy, but he also wants to pursue his own interests: trysts with the handsome Captain Orestes James. Mary (who resembles her father) enters the marriage market, but her younger sister, Annie (who resembles her mother), gets all the attention. Mary makes a wish to be beautiful so she is noticed, and a fairy grants her wish. But wishes always come with a catch. John, Captain James, and a group of ruffian soldiers band together to rescue Mary from a terrible fate.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
The book is narrated by a sprite/hobgoblin/fairy who loves to collect stories. They say they’re just observing and don’t care about anyone involved, but that’s not true. They’re arrogant but secretly a softie.
I started this thinking the love story between John and Captain James would be the main story. However, I was captivated by Mary’s story and the quest to save her. Who knew a wish to be beautiful could go so wrong? That doesn’t mean John and Captain James are shortchanged though. Their growing feelings for each other are swoon worthy.
Miss Bickle, a character from the first book, returns, and I adore her. She is incredibly earnest, open to absolutely anything (especially the supernatural world and fairies), and steadfast in her love for her friends. Sometimes she seems superficial, but there’s a hidden depth there I hope is explored later in the series.
The main story focuses on John Caesar and his two sisters, Mary and Annie. It’s 1815, and the Caesar siblings aren’t fully accepted by society since their father is Black and their mother is white. James wants his sisters happy, but he also wants to pursue his own interests: trysts with the handsome Captain Orestes James. Mary (who resembles her father) enters the marriage market, but her younger sister, Annie (who resembles her mother), gets all the attention. Mary makes a wish to be beautiful so she is noticed, and a fairy grants her wish. But wishes always come with a catch. John, Captain James, and a group of ruffian soldiers band together to rescue Mary from a terrible fate.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
The book is narrated by a sprite/hobgoblin/fairy who loves to collect stories. They say they’re just observing and don’t care about anyone involved, but that’s not true. They’re arrogant but secretly a softie.
I started this thinking the love story between John and Captain James would be the main story. However, I was captivated by Mary’s story and the quest to save her. Who knew a wish to be beautiful could go so wrong? That doesn’t mean John and Captain James are shortchanged though. Their growing feelings for each other are swoon worthy.
Miss Bickle, a character from the first book, returns, and I adore her. She is incredibly earnest, open to absolutely anything (especially the supernatural world and fairies), and steadfast in her love for her friends. Sometimes she seems superficial, but there’s a hidden depth there I hope is explored later in the series.
August 22, 2024
The cover for this book is absolutely gorgeous, and it drew me in and I love the color theme.
This was a witty, queer, historical fiction, fantasy book with loveable characters and a fun plot. I enjoyed the romance aspect of this story, and loved the way that it was told. It wasn't in your face, and you were able to focus on the intricacies of the plot, while the romance took a little bit of a back seat. There was a lot going on plot wise, so I was glad that I was able to read more about the story itself and what was going on so that it could be understood, rather than reading some plot, then switching gears and ignoring the plot for romance.
I would say that the only thing that I was not a fan of in this book, was the narrator. The way that he told the story made it hard to feel connected to what was happening at times. Do not take this as the end all be all, it is just a personal preference, and it was just not for me. I understand that this is a continuation from the first book (which I did not read) and the narrator is the same, so if you read the first book and liked it, then the narrator wouldn't be a problem for you.
Thank you to Alexis Hall, Random House Publishing Group - Balentine / Del Ray and NetGalley for the eARC of this book. This is my honest review.
This was my first book by Alexis Hall, and I have already added more of their books to my TBR for this upcoming week <3
This was a witty, queer, historical fiction, fantasy book with loveable characters and a fun plot. I enjoyed the romance aspect of this story, and loved the way that it was told. It wasn't in your face, and you were able to focus on the intricacies of the plot, while the romance took a little bit of a back seat. There was a lot going on plot wise, so I was glad that I was able to read more about the story itself and what was going on so that it could be understood, rather than reading some plot, then switching gears and ignoring the plot for romance.
I would say that the only thing that I was not a fan of in this book, was the narrator. The way that he told the story made it hard to feel connected to what was happening at times. Do not take this as the end all be all, it is just a personal preference, and it was just not for me. I understand that this is a continuation from the first book (which I did not read) and the narrator is the same, so if you read the first book and liked it, then the narrator wouldn't be a problem for you.
Thank you to Alexis Hall, Random House Publishing Group - Balentine / Del Ray and NetGalley for the eARC of this book. This is my honest review.
This was my first book by Alexis Hall, and I have already added more of their books to my TBR for this upcoming week <3
May 11, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an arc of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is the second book in a series, although you do not need to read Mortal
Follies first, I do recommend doing so.
This book follows some characters we met before, mostly Mr. and Miss Carter, and is narrated by the same mysterious R. (Hi Robin!) I don’t want to spoil the plot, but let’s just say they get themselves into some tricky situations, both with and without the help of fairies. (We also possibly catch up with more friends from the first book, of whom I was most excited to see Miss Bickle)
This book is silly, ridiculous, a love story, confusing, and fun all at once. My favorite scenes were probably the ones regarding a particular duel and the shenanigans that ensure in preparation. I also enjoyed going down several rabbit holes from offhand topics. For example, brushing up on a few Greek myths and some British history.
Lastly, the fact that Alexis Hall somehow added in the writing of Jane Austen fan fiction� what the huh? That was such an amazing addition to this story. I couldn’t get over it and smiled every time it was mentioned.
Overall, I this was quite an enjoyable book. If you liked the first then you are guaranteed to like the sequel! Solid four stars.
This is the second book in a series, although you do not need to read Mortal
Follies first, I do recommend doing so.
This book follows some characters we met before, mostly Mr. and Miss Carter, and is narrated by the same mysterious R. (Hi Robin!) I don’t want to spoil the plot, but let’s just say they get themselves into some tricky situations, both with and without the help of fairies. (We also possibly catch up with more friends from the first book, of whom I was most excited to see Miss Bickle)
This book is silly, ridiculous, a love story, confusing, and fun all at once. My favorite scenes were probably the ones regarding a particular duel and the shenanigans that ensure in preparation. I also enjoyed going down several rabbit holes from offhand topics. For example, brushing up on a few Greek myths and some British history.
Lastly, the fact that Alexis Hall somehow added in the writing of Jane Austen fan fiction� what the huh? That was such an amazing addition to this story. I couldn’t get over it and smiled every time it was mentioned.
Overall, I this was quite an enjoyable book. If you liked the first then you are guaranteed to like the sequel! Solid four stars.
October 17, 2024
Did I like this as much as the first one? No.
I wasn’t a fan of the fact that the love interests were in bed together by chapter five and I didn’t really understand why they liked each other in the first place? Their relationship lacked development and tension for me.
Also there is one particular scene where they both fall into the Thames and when they get back to The Folly, smelling of ‘faeces, mud and river water�, neither of them wash and they have sex.
No thank you.
And the plot was truly nonsensical� but I actually loved that. I never knew what was going to happen next, which made it more fun!
The writing style was fantastic as per usual - I truly adore the narrative voice of Robin/Puck and it was as good as ever in this sequel! I could read 5 more with this particular narrator!
All in all it’s probably around a 3.75 but I’m gonna round it up to 4 stars ⭐️
I also highly recommend to everyone to listen to the audiobook - Nneka Okoye is a revelation!
I wasn’t a fan of the fact that the love interests were in bed together by chapter five and I didn’t really understand why they liked each other in the first place? Their relationship lacked development and tension for me.
Also there is one particular scene where they both fall into the Thames and when they get back to The Folly, smelling of ‘faeces, mud and river water�, neither of them wash and they have sex.
No thank you.
And the plot was truly nonsensical� but I actually loved that. I never knew what was going to happen next, which made it more fun!
The writing style was fantastic as per usual - I truly adore the narrative voice of Robin/Puck and it was as good as ever in this sequel! I could read 5 more with this particular narrator!
All in all it’s probably around a 3.75 but I’m gonna round it up to 4 stars ⭐️
I also highly recommend to everyone to listen to the audiobook - Nneka Okoye is a revelation!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2024
This was wild. Kind of all over the place, with multiple stories going on at once, but it was well-written and a lot of fun. I loved Mortal Follies, and this one is just as good. (Although I would have preferred at least one more scene with Miss Penworthy.)
March 17, 2025
Oops, definitely read this without reading the first one (picked it up at the shop without realizing it was #2). A cute read, a little uneven in pacing and characters, but with a delightful narrator in Puck, which pulls the fairyland ties in to steady it out...maybe even overwhelm the rest of the story, honestly, but part of that is that Puck is one of my favorite tricksters.
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