This is the story of John Caesar, who is trying to help his sister Mary have a successful debut. When she is cursed by fairies, he works with Captain James to rescue her, and many shenanigans come to pass along the way.

Mortal Follies took me a little while to get into because I wasn't sure that I liked the narration by Puck, but this one grabbed me and had me giggling from the very beginning. Even the dedication "My Lord Oberon, I don't know how much longer I can take this" made me giggle, and that was before the story even started.

I loved the character of Captain James, because just his manner of speaking made me laugh at times. He is a soldier through and through and as such is rather crass, compared to Mr. Ceasar's more refined gentleman's speech. I also really enjoyed how the relationship between Mr. Ceasar and Captain James evolved almost without either of them realizing it. At least, that's what it seemed like to me. It was adorable. The Irregulars were also a great part of this story for me. I especially liked Sal and Kumar. 

To be honest, this series isn't my favorite by Alexis Hall but it's definitely worth reading, even for the often silly narration by one Robin Goodfellow. I'd definitely say pick this one up if you're a fan of historical romance.

This was a delightful second visit to this world. I did enjoy the story quite a lot, though it often felt like it didn’t have quite the same edge of danger that the first story did. I really very much enjoy the framing of these stories and the point of view of our faery narrator. It’s such a unique storytelling device, I’ve never read something quite like it. I also like that our narrator interjects their own thoughts/feelings throughout. All of the characters are likeable and many do show character growth which I love. I did feel like the conflict in the first novel was the clear central plot, but this book felt a little less focused. Like I wasn’t quite sure what was the most important thread. I am very excited for the next installment, but I’m hoping for something with higher stakes like the first book.

This book is exactly in its lane and will serve the purpose it’s meant to serve. Personally, I do not like it as much as Mortal Follies but it was still enjoyable. If you like this author, it will definitely be worth reading, but it does fall victim to second book syndrome a bit.

This is a modern take on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Not written in iambic pentameter, the prose approach gives it a more modern feel.

I appreciated the weaving of Shakespearean elements into a modern continuation of Midsummer, I didn’t resonate with the story itself. I appreciated the integration of social elements, the LGBTQIA+ representation, and the general structure of the story, I didn’t get a strong connection to the characters or tales.

Generally, it was well-written, however, I won’t be leaving a public review for this book, as I verbally don’t like to leave less than 4-stars. I want this book to be a success for the author, and just because I didn’t resonate strongly with it, doesn’t mean that others won’t!

Confounding Oaths picks up where Mortal Follies left off following Miss Mitchelmore’s cousin John Caesar and his sister Mary. Like the first book, Robin, a mischievous shapeshifting fairy, narrates the story. As their father is black and the children are varying degrees of white passing, this book deals with both overt and subtle racism. As Mary is the most black looking of her three siblings, she wishes to be beautiful and a goddess turns into a glass person. One who is both mesmerizing and brittle. Therefore, the main conflict of the book is attempting to save her. A British army captain named James and his brothers in arms, the Irregulars, help in this endeavor. James and John also save each other and develop feelings.

Robin conveyed the polite sexism, racism, and homophobia of the time. There were lots of references to John discretely fucking dudes and John being a dandy. There was also racism against Captain James and Mary, neither of whom are white passing. I thought it was interesting seeing the contrast between mlm and wlw relationships and how sex is handled in the 1800s. Men are allowed to be sluts, and John and Captain James hook up by chapter 4. Meanwhile, in Mortal Follies, Miss Mitchelmore and Lady Georgianna do not hook up until near the end of the book.

I found John’s younger sisters, particularly his youngest sister Anne, annoying and vapid as she wants to be married at 14. I understand that it was customary for a lady to find a husband ASAP, but I think this is why I enjoyed the first book more. Both sisters really only want a husband. However, this did lead to some great character growth. They realize they don’t want to be baubles and want to hold off on dating for now.

For the positives, I liked how you had to guess at queer identities. One of the Irregulars is either a drag queen or gender fluid. I loved that gay sex is considered sex in the eyes of Artemis. I appreciated the return of Miss Bickle and her quirkiness as she’s my favorite character in this series. Robin provides plenty of fun quips as an outsider to the human race. There are also a few fun narrative splits where Robin’s speed allows them to narrate two characters simultaneously at one time. For example, a chapter splits one line at a time between Mary dancing at a ball and John in a bar fight.

Unfortunately, most of this book was very slow and not much happened, as Captain James and John attempt to save Mary and flirt around dating with an immense lack of emotion. It picked up towards the end when they go to fairyland but after most of the story where nothing really happened, I struggled to care. I liked how the conflict ends in a fight with a bear to save a virgin from being sacrificed though.

Overall, I just found this book very boring and lacking more in emotion than the previous book, perhaps because it followed more characters. I liked that we discover more about Robin in this book. They are sexless and asexual which reminded me of murderbot. However, after two books, I wish I knew more about them and magic in general in this world. Confounding Oaths has an open ended conclusion unlike the first book, and their relationship was left as ‘happy for now’ as a soldier’s lover. Towards the end, John mentions that he could have followed with the wives and children to war, which I didn’t really understand since men can’t be together in 1800s Britain. I love Alexis Hall’s other books, but I don’t think I will be continuing with this series.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for this ARC Copy!

Returning to the world of Mortal Follies was exciting, and I was not disappointed, honestly I enjoyed this one more than book one quite a bit. I really was glad to see that our favorite narrator Puck had returned to tell this story as well. As usual the story was filled with comedy, drama, and an adorable romance.

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.

Thank you to Ballantine Books for the eARC; this is my honest review.

Regency fairies is apparently my thing -- this is such a fun follow-up to the first Mortal Follies book. I also really enjoy Alexis Hall's writing.

What I liked the most:

- Robin is a great narrator to take us through the tale
- The social commentary and the take on what life would be like for a transgender person in Regency England
- You really get a sense of the characters (so you have all the information to decide whether you like them or not)

The focus here is not really on the romance, and that's okay. Overall, I enjoyed the book.

Confounding Oaths was an absolutely delightful follow up to Mortal Follies (although I don’t think you need to have read Mortal Follies to enjoy this one.) I think this series has become my go-to for historical fantasy rom-coms. As with Mortal Follies, the most entertaining part is the delightful fae narrator who is telling the story with an extra dose of commentary on the side, and I think this world has been cemented as one that I know I will delight in returning to over and over and over again.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for giving me an arc in exchange for an honest review!

Alexis Hall is an author I keep trying to like and keep not meshing with. I was really hopeful that Confounding Oaths would reel me in - I loved the premise! - but it just...didn't. I know they have an audience, but unfortunately they are just not for me.

Like the first book in this series this was quite enjoyable but I found both to be a bit more of a slog to get through than literally any other Alexis Hall book I've ever read (and I've read a lot of them!)

I really enjoyed *Confounding Oaths*, even more than *Mortal Follies*. This one focuses on Mr. Caesar, a mixed-race gentleman, and his sweet yet complicated romance with Captain Orestes James, a Black military man. The chemistry between them is subtle, but the chaos of magic gone wrong takes center stage, narrated by the witty Robin Goodfellow. The humor had me laughing out loud, especially when Robin morphs into mist, bees, and more to spy on everyone. The book's blend of magic, mischief, and commentary on beauty, privilege, and class was just brilliant.

The story kicks off when Miss Caesar wishes to be beautiful and ends up turning into a literal glass statue. The wild ride that follows, as her family tries to break the curse, is both hilarious and touching. I loved how it explored themes like class differences, self-worth, and not taking loved ones for granted, all while maintaining a sharp wit throughout. Definitely one of those books where you get a good mix of laughter and deeper reflections.

I liked this one more than the first book. It took me a little to get into, mainly due to the POV being the narrator telling the sorry and not one of the main characters. I love the mix of fantasy and the regency era. Mr. Caesar and Captain James have my heart.

Adorable, whimsical, and absurd in the best ways—Confounding Oaths is an excellent second installment in the Mortal Follies series. Our story follows John Caesar (who we met in the first book and I would highly recommend reading that one first)—a lawyer trying to help his sister Mary on the marriage market. As the child of an interracial couple, John feels the weight of responsibility on his shoulders to ensure their family’s future success. Mary—who knows she visibly stands out in a way that is “undesirable” to most suitors—desperately wants someone to like her for who she is. When Mary makes an unwise deal with a fairy godmother that turns her (literally) to glass, John turns to the mysterious (and handsome) Captain Orestes James for help. As John, the Captain, and their misfit band of friends and comrades work together to find a way to unravel the fairy’s bargain for Mary, John finds himself increasingly drawn to the Captain whom he knows he should stay far away from. In typical Alexis Hall fashion, chaos ensues.

❤️ What I loved: More than Mortal Follies, this book felt like more of an ensemble book which I thoroughly enjoyed. I find that Alexis Hall is so artful in the ways he balances humor and sincerity—something that many others struggle to do and a skill that really makes this book shine. Our friendly and “Puck-ish” (wink) narrator was delightfully devilish as usual.

💔 What I didn’t love: This isn’t so much an issue for me, but I think some might be disappointed in the main romantic relationship in this book in that it is somewhat secondary to the overall plot.

I will continue to pick up all of Alexis Hall’s fabulous books, and I look forward to what I hope will be a 3rd installment in the Mortal Follies universe!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 (4.5-5)

Acknowledgments & Disclaimers
✨ Thank you to NetGalley, Alexis Hall, and Random House Publishing/Ballentine/Del Rey, for providing an ARC and the opportunity to share an honest review of this book.
✨ All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
✨ My reviews and ratings strive to evaluate books within their own age-demographic and genre.

I have a very hard time getting into the groove of the narrator voice in this series. I felt similarly in Mortal Follies. I love the romance plots, but the structure is difficult for me to connect to.

I was so hoping I'd gel with this more than with Mortal Follies, but alas. Despite the stunningly gorgeous cover and the always amusing Miss Bickle, this fell flat for me. I really can't stand Robin Goodfellow's as narrator. He's annoying and I hated his constant snide commentary that was forever pulling me away from the characters and plot. I also couldn't stand how stiff and stilted everyone is. I didn't care about any of the characters and as I was reading I kept thinking how I wished it was over.

I'll try the next from Alexis Hall because I love their other works, but I'll pass on any more in this series.

*Thanks to Del Rey for providing an early copy for review.

In Confounding Oaths, Alexis Hall has created an enchanting twist on the typical Regency romance and infused the narrative with a unique voice. John, Orestes and Mary are wonderful protagonists that give a vivid insight into the classism and racism of eighteenth century England but do it with so much panache that it is a delight to read.
One of the things I love the best is the voice of the novel, utilizing the voice of Robin Goodfellow to drive the narrative and point out the flaws of society. It also allows the reader to follow all the interesting characters around and get a better vision of what the fey are up to in this magical story.
I really enjoyed that we got the classical regency romance but with an LGBTQ twist to the story but infused with magic and a realistic look at society. I loved the twists and turns in fairy magic and the theme of embracing your true self, being there for your family whether biological or found and how love makes us better people.
If you love atypical romances, fairy magic, and a story that pokes fun at society, this is a delightful and enchanting twist on regency romances. The characters are charming, heroic, and dashing. The narrative is uniquely voiced and I loved every minute of the story.

I’ve been a big fan of Alexis Hall’s books for years. I especially enjoyed his historical fantasy Mortal Follies, so I was thrilled to see that he had written a sequel. Protagonist John appeared as a secondary character in the first book, but you don’t necessarily have to read the first book in order to understand this one.

As was the case with the first book, Puck– yes, that Puck– returns as narrator. The conceit is that he has fallen out of favor with Oberon and he is recounting fantastic tales to an audience comprised of we the readers.

While a great deal happens over the course of the novel, it can be summed up in one sentence: the characters get mixed up with magic with unexpected outcomes and they must work together to set things right.

Ostensibly, John is the protagonist, but our intrepid narrator focuses on anyone and anything that catches his notice, sometimes even flitting between two events happening at the same time, so readers receive a much fuller picture than had this story unfolded from a fixed perspective narrator or even dual points of view. Our narrator is even gracious enough to provide commentary on the proceedings. The characters are well rounded and versatile.

There is a romance of sorts between John and the handsome Captain James, but I don’t know that I would characterize this as a romance novel because the romance is not the focus of the plot. Once again, we return to an alternate Regency England where the faerie world often bleeds into the real world. You have to be careful of what you wish for and never trust a faerie.

I would absolutely recommend Confounding Oaths. This is a rollicking adventure with a great narrator. Hall blends issues of race and class and injustice into a tale of a curse that needs to be reversed. I am hoping that this is not the last time we experience this fascinating alternate world because I can’t get enough of it!

I received a digital ARC of this book from Ballantine/NetGalley.

The ever delightful Puck is back again for another tale of 1815's London. This time, the focus of the story is on the previous heroine's best friend's cousins, the lower-upper-class Caesars. When sixteen year old Mary finds herself in no one's favor in her first season, she makes a wish upon a star. She never expected her wish would be heard by a fairy, not to mention granted, with severe consequence. Miss Ceasar's pampered and aloof older brother, with social problems of his own, must save her. With absolutely no real world skills, he relies on the aid of a low-born army captain and his friends, a ragtag group of infantrymen who spend most of their days in a slum of a bar. Together, this hodgepodge group must find their way to save a young lady from the perils of the fairy court

I unfortunately did not enjoy this book nearly as much as I did the first. Maybe because it was similar enough in that entitled youth of the ton must use their wits to get themselves out of magical integments. Maybe because I found the Ceasars all rather exhaustingly petty. I do understand that the most important thing for a young lady in the Regency era was to find a man who would not only be kind of polite to her but also be able to support her and her family, and the best way to do so was to be comely. Maybe it's because I relied too much on the visuals of the Bridgerton series, but I did not find these characters as intriguing as they are meant to be. In fact, my favorite character was the flighty cousin Miss Bickle; I would be absolutely delighted to read a 1000-page novel of her life and adventures to come from either her own point of view or Puck's narration.

Our dear narrator was just as entertaining as before, making me literally laugh out loud at some points and highlighting many lines to share with my friends. Alexis
Hall clearly struck gold with his character
Unfortunately, the second book just fell a little flat. I rate this book three and a half stars comma mostly because I kept getting so bored in the story telling and none of the climax seemed to be as heart pounding as intended.

📖 Genre: Fantasy Romance
✨ Stars: 4/5
✨ Spice: 3/5

✨ Review:
Confounding Oaths by Alexis Hall is a delightful blend of humor, romance, and a touch of mystery that fans of the author will thoroughly enjoy. Set in Hall's signature world of the Mortal Follies series where witty banter meets deep emotional connections, this novel delivers on many fronts and I greatly enjoyed reading it! It is a half step out of my comfort zone, but isn't that what finding new books is for?

This book is perfect for readers who enjoy romantic comedies with a bit of an edge. Fans of Hall’s previous works, especially those who appreciate his combination of wit, romance, and character-driven stories, will find this book a satisfying read. It’s also a great pick for those who enjoy LGBTQ+ romances, as Hall continues to explore themes of identity, love, and acceptance in a nuanced way.

While the plot might feel somewhat predictable to seasoned romance readers, the journey is what makes this book stand out. Hall’s dialogue sparkles with wit, and the chemistry between the characters is phenomenal. The occasional dips in pacing are easily forgiven, thanks to the strong emotional beats and character interactions. Overall, "Confounding Oaths" is a charming, heartfelt read that’s well worth picking up, particularly for fans of well-crafted romantic fiction.