Hall continues to showcase a wide range of writing skills in this novel, replicating the rhythm and atmosphere of Shakespearean works. However, I'm not sure that the repeat reader of Hall is going to know what they are walking into and may not find it to be their cup of tea. Libraries may be better off recommending this to patrons who have been into retellings of Shakespeare, rather than the fan of Hall's romantic novels.

✨ ARC REVIEW ✨

3⭐️ 0.5🌶️

I have complicated feelings about this book. There were certainly things I enjoyed. I just don’t think I enjoyed it as much as I hoped I would.

Alexis Hall is obviously a talented writer, but this story in particular felt very disjointed. Based on the synopsis, I was under the impression the two main characters would be working together to eliminate a curse plaguing Maelys Mitchelmore. And, in a way, I guess that’s true? However, the whole time it felt like Maelys and her friends were investigating amongst themselves and Lady Georgina was investigating separately. But the “whodunnit” of the original curse was made obvious very early on and handled at around the 60% mark. Then we have 20% of nearly nothing (maybe the intention at this point was to finally grow the relationship between Maelys & Georgina), then we have another curse. The second curse, however, wasn’t nearly as mysterious or intriguing as the first and felt a bit…silly. I think it’s because I didn’t feel like I was given anything to make me invested in the romance between Maelys and Georgina.

I thought the use of a third party narrator was clever at times, but detrimental at others. Having a sprite tell the story definitely added to the overall whimsy of the novel, but I think it was at the expense of developing a deeper connection with the characters themselves. I found this to be especially true any time there was an intimate moment between Maelys and Georgiana.

I did love how whimsical this novel felt. Some of the commentary from the narrator was actually very funny, and added some much needed lightness to the story. Lizzie Bickle was by far and away my favorite character. She is not bothered by anything and her insistence of finding proof of fairies was quite sweet.

Overall, Mortal Follies is an okay novel. If you think you’d enjoy a sapphic regency romance novels with a touch of whimsy, maybe give this once a go!

Thank you so much to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Mortal Follies.

I thought this book definitely had potential and with the unique aspect of a fairy narrator was amusing at first. It's an interesting mix of first and third person narration, but he inserts himself and his opinions and goes down these tangents that just take away from the unique narration aspect. The romance can only be commented on so much by a narrator like this and while it is something unique in this way it is seriously limited because how can he comment on what these characters are truly feeling? He can't, he's just an observer and not in a third person narration type of way. The plot somewhat loses focus around the midway point and takes a while to come back to but in the end, it was a pretty decent book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Del Rey for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have enjoyed Alexis Hall’s books in multiple genres this far. This one was interesting with an omniscient narrator and could have used some editing as the story seemed to meander onward way too long, then skip forward in time and not really explain issues.

I enjoyed the world building with a mixture of historical romance and mythology. I enjoyed the characters but felt they could have been more fully developed which is a drawback to having the omniscient narrator.

Overall I enjoyed this book, but felt it could use some further editing to condense down unnecessary parts of the story and flesh out others.

I sadly had to DNF this book at around the 40% mark. It was set in the 1800 and it was just not my reading style and trying to understand the dialog became a little complicated for me personally and the story just did not pull me in.

This was a cute book with likable characters, but something about the writing style just didn’t work for me. Maybe it was just because it was trying to emulate dialogue from the 1800s but it felt forced in some way. Overall, I still enjoyed the book!

This book was a good time! The story was set in a Bridgerton type of world, but with magic (witches, gods, hobgoblins, pixies, etc). Miss Mitchelmore, Miss Bickle, and Mr. Caesar took us on a hilarious journey of finding out who cursed Miss Mitchelmore and helping her figure out her dangerous romance with the Duke of Annadale. Throughout the journey, Miss Mitchelmore is coming to terms with her sexuality, and she learns she is stronger than she ever knew.

What I really liked about this book was the diverse friend group and their openess with each other. Even though they lived in a society that didn't really expect people who were different, they never judged each other. Also, they stuck together and would do anything to help each other out.

What I didn't like is that the story got to the main plot kind of early, and it veered off into two other plots that were entertaining but a little unnecessary. I just would have liked it to stay in the "who done it" plot a little longer.

As far romance, Miss Mitchelmore and the Duke of Annadale's romance progressively changes throughout the book. They go from a kind of damsel in distress situation to not admitting attraction to a one-sided love. It got a little spicy at times, but not too much.

✨️Favorite Character✨️
Miss Bickle was my favorite character because she reminded me of Rose from the Golden Girls. She was always going off on funny and random tangents no one wanted to hear about. Also, she was always optimistic and, at times, more knowledgeable than anyone else.

Overall, this was a funny book with some interesting magical elements. Check it out!

Mortal Follies is an adult f/f historical romance with magical fantasy elements. I don't typically enjoy magical stories, but if it's by Alexis Hall chances are high that I will love it. The supporting characters were funny and charming and I liked seeing a Byronic love interest. It took me a bit to get used to the narration style, but once I did I enjoyed it.

Alexis Hall has been on my TBR list for months, but when I heard about this book, I knew I had to read it first, since I love Regency fantasy. MORTAL FOLLIES did not disappoint. It has a determined debutante protagonist; a dark, brooding, Byronic love interest with a tragic past; and one of the most hilariously awesome best friends I've seen in years.

At first I wasn't sure what I made of the use of Robin Goodfellow as narrator, since his editorial narration adds some distance between the reader and the main characters. Gradually, Robin's opinionated personality grew on me. I'd read other novels narrated by him (hint, hint) and I have MANY questions about the reasons for his exile.

Without spoiling the plot, let me say that I was puzzled when it appeared that the conflict had been wrapped up neatly (or messily). What, I wondered, was going to happen in the second half of the story? Not to worry: there was plenty of adventure, heartache, and magic still ahead, bound by a clear arc to the first act.

Have I mentioned how much I love Miss Bickle, Maelys's best friend? I would quite happily read an entire book about her-- or maybe some fanfic pairing her with a supernatural entity of her choice. (Hint, hint.)

This book was FUN! It’s a hilarious combination of romance, historical fiction, and comedy. I loved how Hall’s version of the Regency-Era setting made space for inclusivity of all types of people and romances, while somehow still incorporating the strict rules of the time regarding a woman’s reputation. She also somehow manages to successfully include fairies and many different gods and myths into the story. As the reader, you just have to accept these creatures and beliefs as part of the world.

I enjoyed watching the main character, Maelys, and her cousin and best friend try to determine who had cursed her, and loved their banter regarding her romantic feelings for the self-proclaimed misanthrope, Lady Georgiana. Puck/Robin, the narrator, is the best part of the entire book - his view on us “mortals” elevates the entire story. You can tell how much Hall loved writing his point of view, and really this entire story. Hall gets major points for writing such hilariously relatable characters. May we all be blessed with a Miss Bickle in our lives, if only to remind us to be different and seek out the things that bring us joy (I now officially “ting” Mr. Willoughby x Mr. Wickham). If you’re a fan of Shakespeare (A Midnight Summer’s Dream), Bridgerton, or Jane Austen then this story is for you!

Thank you to NetGalley, Del Rey, and Random House Publishing Group for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

In this book, Miss Mitchelmore finds herself under a curse. She teams up with her best friends and an alluring but disgraced noblewoman to beat the curse and survive the aftermath. I was disappointed in this book! It lacked what I like best in Alexis Hall's books, which is a really strong emotional tie to the characters. I think this was because of the unusual choice of having the narrator be a Puck-like sprite, rather than first person or general third. The narrator was just watching the characters for fun and didn't connect deeply with them, so neither did I. I like the idea of having a sprite narrate in theory, but perhaps we just needed one who cared and/or understood the emotions of the characters. The characters were fine, especially our main character's best friend, and the book was amusing, it just didn't give me that emotional punch I hope for in an Alexis Hall book.

I would like to thank NetGalley for an ARC of Mortal Follies by Alexis Hall.

I really thought I was going to enjoy this book but I DNF’d it after about 25-30%. It just didn’t capture my attention.

Thanks a bunch to Netgalley & Random House for an ARC of this magical tale! Mortal Follies is a sapphic historical romp that follows two women’s quest to break a curse that seeks to claim the life of one. Miss Mitchelmore and Lady Georgiana were like able characters, I for one am a huge fan or what I like to call the “Beauty and the Beast trope,” but I found their banter lacking at best. The biggest struggle of this novel is the pacing. The story seems to begin and stop and begin and stop again throughout its 200 plus pages. Many times it felt as if the characters were simply going to each other’s houses over and over again without any real progression to the plot. On the other hand my favorite part of the story was Robin, the narrator/storyteller fairy creature that provides excellent comic relief and balance to the story. It was a shame it felt as if the book was over just as soon as it began with the reveal of Viscount Fortrose as the primary antagonist. Thus, I give this book a 3.8 out of 5. I’m very much looking forward to Alexis Hall’s future titles, as I have been pleasantly enjoying their foray into the historical fiction genre.

One thing you say about Alexis Hall is that he never writes the same book twice. Some of the genres he has explored have worked for me and some haven't, but I know I'll never be bored. Mortal Follies is not going to make my list of Top 5 Alexis Hall books, but it was highly entertaining in its own way.

The story is narrated by a "knavish sprite" named Robin who has been exiled from the fairy court for reasons unknown. Now that he has to deal with vile things like rent and utilities, he has reluctantly signed with a publisher to tell some of the stories he has gathered over the centuries. He chooses one set in 1814, because he has heard that readers have a fondness for the Regency era.

"Something about the dresses perhaps? Or the balls? Or perhaps you're all just nostalgic for the staggering social inequality? I wouldn't blame you, I found it hilarious myself. The Corn Laws, for example, were a masterpiece of comic invention; raising the price of grain so much that the people who grow it can't afford it? Genius! Of course we live in more enlightened times now."

I wish I could tell you that the rest of the book is as sharply satirical as the Prologue, but unfortunately during the main story the best Robin can do is throw in a few snarky asides.

The nominal MC of the novel is Miss Maelys Mitchelmore, who finds herself the victim of a curse laid upon her by an unknown source. During the first manifestation of the curse, when Miss Mitchelmore's clothing starts dissolving at a fancy ball, she is rescued by the mysterious Lady Georgiana Landrake, a reclusive, cynical woman who is rumored to have murdered her father and three brothers. Because she is the only family member left alive, she has been given the moniker "Duke of Annadale," and is both feared and scorned.

Of course Miss Mitchelmore and the Duke of Annnadale are going to fall in love, despite several curses and angry goddesses, society's distaste for Sapphic passion, and the Duke's insistence on pushing Miss Mitchelmore away for her own good. But Miss Mitchelmore develops into a strong young woman who will not be so easily gainsaid.

Because everything is seen through Robin's jaded eyes, I couldn't fully engage in the relationship between the two women. We never get inside their heads or hearts, other than what they choose to share with each other. Fortunately the secondary characters shine, most notably Miss Mitchelmore's loyal, loquacious, totally oblivious BFF Miss Bickle, and Miss Mitchelmore's caring but clueless parents, who are more interested in science than society.

If you view the book as a Shakespearean comedy romp (Robin claims to have given old William an excellent story "but the bastard didn't even give me a co-writer credit"), you will likely appreciate Mortal Follies. If you are expecting a heartfelt, emotionally wrenching story like Hall's A Lady for a Duke, you will be extremely disappointed. In that case you will just have to hope that his muses point him in that direction again some day.

ARC received from Net Galley in exchange for objective review.

I got to around 30% through the book and found that to be a challenge. as the narration was something that didn't all me to really fully get into the story, especially the romance part. It all felt very over the top and it wasn't very enjoyable but I did like the main characters and their banter together. I think I would have liked it more as an audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the advanced copy! All thoughts are my own.

2/5

I am so disappointed that I had to DNF around 52% and couldn't bring it in myself to continue.

While the concept is charming and fun, it seems to be messily executed. For the first few chapters, I was laughing regularly at the narrator's witty comments. But it quickly became tiresome. By 40% I was skipping any paragraph that was clearly narrator-only rambling. It would've been fun dialogue for a voice-over on a film or show, but not for a book. It was a lot of run-on sentences, and it was tiresome.

There was a lot of wit and charm in the dialogue, and honestly that was the only reason I continued. The only character I really liked was the MC's best friend, and she wasn't in it as much as I'd prefer. Everyone else seemed formulatic and quite frankly boring.

I wanted to love this for the representation. The main romance is F/F, but there is also M/M and trans (or what could be taken as such in this era) representation. However, while representation is great, it can't surpass the wall of run-on sentences and narration filler.

Bridgerton but make is queer!
I loved it. This is my first ever Alexis Hall book and I was quite surprised from how much I enjoyed their writing and now I will be reading anything they write.
The characters were all so lovable and at times I did actually laugh out loud!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

I've read one of this author's other books, so I was looking forward to this one but I ended up really disappointed with it. The main romantic leads felt very wooden and had little chemistry for me, The pacing was weird-- the first half of the book felt really slow, then the middle hundred pages of so seemed like a different book entirely, then the ending felt super rushed, to the point where I said out loud to my fiancee "they better find a way to wrap this up in the next seven pages because it's not looking likely right now." The narrator was fine, it was an interesting twist on the genre and I thought it worked fine. This one wasn't for me. If you're curious, get it from the library.

This book was pretty fun! I thought the mythology in the story was great and that it was rather funny. However, I couldn’t find myself super interested in the plot and didn’t feel sucked in.

The book was really fun to read. The narrator was a hilarious voice that kept me interested in the plot. I loved the Sapphic romance. I would say this book is like the missing gay story from Brigerton. I look forward to reading more by this author.