Overall I found the story enjoyable, and it had just the right amount of humor and heart that I would expect from Alexis Hall. That said, I really struggled to get started and get into it. If I could give it 3.5 stars, that would be what I would give it. It started off very slow - and maybe because I haven't read Mortal Follies I was more confused than I would have been. If you are the kind of person who has to be sucked into a book within the first few chapters, this one probably won't do it.

Once it got going, I really enjoyed the silly, ridiculous, but extremely entertaining run of the story. At times it felt like diving into the way my ADHD brain thinks with the random asides and what I would call plot side quests. It wasn't as much of a romance as I was expecting it to be, but the way it told a story about all the kinds of family that you have in your life made up for that. If you're expecting bodice ripping spice, this ain't it and that's okay. Sometimes you just need an actual story.

I liked the way that it was told from the narrator's perspective. That's not something that would be enjoyable for everyone, but it worked for this. Overall worth the read!

(I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for my review)

3.5 stars. I enjoyed Mortal Follies, albeit with some reservations, and was excited to see Alexis Hall (an overall favorite) continue the series with the escapades of the Caesar family, narrated again by the hobgoblin Robin (also known as Puck, as in A Midsummer Night's Dream), in Confounding Oaths. The narration here is a bit tighter than in the first, still full of sarcasm, snark, and silliness, and was delightful once again - this voice really sets Hall's series apart from other fantasy romances. Confounding Oaths is more of a family and adventure story, following John Caesar, his sisters, and his parents as they deal with a wish made by one of John's sisters, as well as a group of soldiers nicknamed the Irregulars and led by Captain Orestes James. This wide cast of characters was quite fun and had a range of personalities and roles, from the variety of soldiers to the abolitionists and interracial couple Mr. and Mrs. Caesar, and back to returning characters from Mortal Follies (I'm always amused by Lizzie Bickle).

I was surprised, though, that the romance took quite a backseat in this book. John and Captain James get together very early on and spend the book figuring out what they are to each other and what they want in the future. While Hall is so gifted at developing relationships, we don't see that in this book, in which we get very little about why the two care about each other or much about Captain James. In its place, the book is much more of an fantasy adventure, with the group trying to fix the situation that John's sister Mary has ended up in. That was entertaining, but I wish it had been balanced out by more of the romance, which we know Hall can write so well.

Thanks so much to the publisher and Netgalley for an e-arc of this book.

Alexis Hall is a must-read, must-buy author for me. In this series, he takes bolder chances and tries things out in his writing style. While this wasn't my favorite of his recent publications, I still loved his signature humor and how he wrote the narration of this book.

In Mortal Follies, the characters and their story were my favorite part, but in this one, I was much more intrigued by our narrator (the fairy from A Midsummer Night's Dream) and his adventures throughout the moral world. He's flitting between all of our characters here and offering hilarious and interesting quotes like "history is won by the writers," which I thought was quite profound for a romantasy!

This book was very plot-focused with less focus on our characters' romance, which was fairly easy as historical gay interracial romances go. There was a lot going on with the fairies, and the wishes, and the sword fights (a LOT of sword fights)! I had some trouble telling our characters apart since we were dealing with a family, particularly with Mary and Anne.

I think Hall is doing some very exciting things with his work, and I'm always looking forward to more!!!

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: our protagonist, 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.

DNF at 20% - I could not get into this one and I’m really not a fan of insta-love/lust that happened a few chapters ago

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I didn’t 100% love Mortal Follies, but I’m an Alexis Hall stan even when they write stuff I’m not a fan of, and this was one of the better books in that department. So, I decided to go into the next book, Confounding Oaths, with an open mind. But somehow, this book was both more of the things I really enjoyed and yet a major step down.
Once again, I loved the narrator, although the narrator was also the source of my grievances. Hall has this quintessentially British humor that really runs wild with these books in particular, and I enjoyed Robin’s delightful quips, the most memorable being one of dramatic irony, highlighting how “scandalous” a marriage between an aristocrat and POC would have been in the Regency England setting of the book (even a fictionalized version), while pointing out sarcastically that such an occurrence “in the enlightened twenty-first century” was “wholly unremarkable.” This book continues in a similar vein of having Robin both narrate and play a role in the narrative, and it’s still weird, but I’m more used to it this time around.
But once again, there is a distance from the other major players of the book, to the point of me not caring about them. I can’t tell you a single remarkable thing about John Caesar or Orestes James, beyond that they have really epic names, and their romance was incredibly tepid, even more so than the first book’s romance.
Additionally, even considering that Hall writes longer books, I felt this one was too long, given the general lack of much of interest beyond this tepid romance and Robin’s quirks to carry the book. I don’t know where the two books in this series land word count wise, but I sighed when I saw this one had 448 pages in the final copy, compared to Mortal Follies’ 416, as while the first book had some of the same issues with characters, it at least felt more light and evenly paced.
This was a disappointment, and while I still love Alexis Hall, I don’t know if I’ll continue this series if there are more books. But if this more detached style of romance storytelling works for you, and you enjoy lighthearted and whimsical fantasy, perhaps you’ll enjoy this more than I did.

Thank you Random House and Netgalley for providing me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Confounding Oaths was just as fun and engaging as Mortal Follies, if not more-so. I absolutely adore the whimsical nature of these books with an outside faerie narrator.

This book followed John Caesar, cousin of the first books protagonist, his romance with Captain Orestes James, and his younger sisters dealings with the faerie world.

I really liked the relationship between Caesar and James. It was unconventional and neither seemed altogether suited for the other and yet they fell for each other anyway. I loved that they were entangled with each other from the start, both helping save the other, both ensuring their lives are forever entwined.

I really liked the way race was handled in this. It truly broke my heart that Mary was made to feel less beautiful because of her African heritage and therefore her African features. But I love that she owned who she was in the end, that she wanted to connect with that side of herself, after so desperately wanting to throw it away.

The magic and inclusion of the faerie world was a lot of fun, as always. Turning a woman into glass because she asked to be beautiful? I would expect nothing less from the fae.

All in all, a great second addition to this world. I’d love to have Miss Bickle’s story next!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for this honest review!!

Another beautiful and magical Alexis Hall book with Ana amazing cover. Whoever does this art deserves a raise. I also am a sucker for a good historical fantasy and I’m loving this series!

How do I explain just how much I loved this book?

I have not read Mortal Follies, but I need to go back now to catch up. I was hooked from the prologue when our impish narrator asked why I hadn’t read the first book yet and if I was determined to see him suffer. And then a few pages later, I became absolutely obsessed with Miss Bickle as she explained the concept of Jane Austen fanfiction to her friends without using any of these words: fanfiction, fandom, Jane Austen, Austenverse, or draft. I, too, am an “avid reader of the words of the anonymous lady author of Sense and Sensibility.”

I think that Lizzie Bickle and Catherine Morland would make excellent friends. Someone please write this fanfic.

So unfortunately Miss Bickle is not the main character of this book, but I hope that that is soon remedied in a later novel.

The actual MC is Mr. John Caesar, a biracial, 19 year old Regency dandy who is regretting his role as the older son who must marry off his younger sister, Miss Caesar. (There are two Caesar daughters, but remember: in this period, the eldest is Miss Caesar and the younger is Miss Anne.) At the ball, he spars with his ex, then gets in a fight with a guy who makes racist comments about his sister, and that’s when he meets the ~handsome~ Black soldier named Captain Orestes James. And…. then Mr. Caesar and Captain James must team up to save Miss Caesar from a very ill-advised bargain with a fairy. Our narrator, by the way, is a sprite who serves Oberon and hates Titania’s fae. He also hates Shakespeare.

The only other book I’d read from Alexis Hall was A Lady for a Duke, which was another very lovely, queer Regency romance. I’m usually cautious about Regency romances, but having read both of these books, I can trust Hall to write a Regency romance that doesn’t feel like it’s justifying colonialism or bigotry.

I knew this was a gay romance, but I was pleasantly surprised to discover that race featured prominently in this! Lady Caesar is a white woman who married a Senegalese man, and the family is not always welcomed by the white gentry. The ball at the beginning of the novel is explicitly thrown by a French Indian, who has a tricky social position because he is rich but has to fight harder to prove his English patriotism due to the current war against Napoleon. Mr. Caesar and Captain James also have a discussion about how their different social positions put them in the company of people who either do or don’t accept them as they are.

The 10th Kingdom taught me to love any fairytale that teaches, “be careful what you wish for,” and this book delivered. I appreciated the character growth that each of the Caesar siblings had to learn, and I was happy to find a happily ever after that acknowledged that life would be hard but our lovers could endure. I mean, this is a series where fairies are always listening and Napoleon has not yet been defeated at Waterloo. The setting has constraints, and I like having those constraints. They ground the story.

If you have not read the first book, neither have I, so you will be able to catch on. We see the lovers from Book 1 a few times, but you will not be lost or confused having missed their story. It’s perhaps more important to be familiar with Midsummer Night’s Dream, since Puck might be our narrator. I’m not sure if a non-Shakespeare fan would be confused by the Titania/Oberon mentions.

In any case, this was a very lovely book that I plan to buy. It’s sweet, but the spice is not graphic because the narrator doesn’t care to watch. Mr. Caesar and Captain James are surrounded by good friends/family, and I laughed a lot.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine for this ARC.

"A nobleman must work with a dashing soldier to save his sister from a mystical bargain gone awry in this swoon-worthy romance from the bestselling author of Boyfriend Material.

It is the year 1815, and Mr. John Caesar is determined to help his sister, Mary, successfully navigate the marriage mart. A high-stakes endeavor at the best of times, this task is made slightly more difficult by his family's nontraditional background, the pernicious whims of the ton, and the ever-present complication of living in a world full of scheming fairies and capricious gods.

Despite all that, John knows that his parents wish to see his sister comfortably settled. He also knows that the sooner he sees Mary's future secured, the sooner he can get his own wish - returning to an aristocratic life of leisure. And as for Mary? Sweet, sensitive Mary just wishes gentlemen would pay as much attention to her as they do to her younger sister.

When Mary's all-too-literal wish puts her squarely in the sights of a malicious fairy godmother, John sets out to save her. This choice throws him into the path of Captain Orestes James - the handsome up-from-the-ranks hero of Wellington's armies - and his ragtag band of misfits. Together, John and the captain will venture into a vicious world of fey bargains and sacrificial magic as they draw ever closer to rescuing Mary - and to each other. While John is no stranger to casual dalliances with soldiers, until now he's never expected one to last - or wanted one to. He and the captain come from different worlds, and even if Orestes feels the same, John knows there's no point in wishing for something more between them.

After all, John has learned firsthand that getting what you wish for can be a dangerous thing...."

Regency Magic in the house! Yes, I am dancing! And?

I enjoyed this book, but it wasn't quite what l expected. Part of this is on me, because I didn't realize until I started it that it was technically a sequel, and therefore I didn't know what to expect going in beyond the description on NetGalley. I enjoyed the plot quite a bit, but I never quite came to love the characters for reasons that I really can't explain. That being said, it's a solid story, and for those who love the author l'd highly recommend it- I think I simply struggle with this author's writing voice, but it seems to work quite well for others. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I can't get enough of this series. I fell in love with MORTAL FOLLIES and CONFOUNDING OATHS sealed the deal. The stand out for me is the narration - it's sharp, snappy and had me laughing out loud constantly.
Alexis Hall's work is unfailing exciting, queer and joyous.

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Confounding Oaths is a witty, hilarious, and wild novel about John and Captain James. I personally have not been able to read Mortal Follies, but the narrator's style has drawn me in with the commentary! Discussions regarding social classes and race are refreshing, especially the depth that it goes through for a romantic sub-genre. I can sense that Alexis Hall is truly truly passionate not only about writing, but learning and discussing in general as there were a few instances where there were some interesting expansions regarding British history.

The magic system and the true chaos of the fae is a truly entertaining read!

I thought this was a romance which is why I picked it up. Now I'm noticing that it wasn't categorized that way, which makes sense because I wouldn't categorize it that way just because the main plot (while you could say there were 2 that were given pretty equal "air time") was a "lessons learned" type plot. Because the focus wasn't on romance, I wasn't really invested in the couple.

I did love the whimsical narration and if I was into fantacy, I would have loved it even more.

3.5 rounded down. Opposite to my experience with [book:Mortal Follies|62984592], 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.

Alexis Hall's superpower as a writer is making me giggle about the tiny things. If you commit to the bit so hard that it invades your "about the author", you're my hero.

In Confounding Oaths, our mischievous narrator leads us into yet another story. This story has winning ingredients: dashing romances, a wish gone wrong, and the comedic relief that helps the reader through the many woes the characters experience. It's best read on a warm evening when the magic in the air is palpable and you can believe that the narrator would watch your many stumbles too.

A 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: even fairies choose the bear

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc

Alexis hall has such a way with a farce. Mixing it up with elements of Jane Austen and Shakespeare and a narrator that breaks the fourth wall.
I really enjoyed this book. It’s so different from most of the romance out there.

Big thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine/Del-Rey for the chance to read an ARC of this in exchange for an honest review.
This was a great follow-up to book one in this series. It has great LGBTQIA+ representation. There is some romance but it is sweet, not so much spice, which I enjoyed. This has such fantastic narration. I found myself legitimately laughing out loud at times while reading.

Without giving anything away, the Gods are having some fun with the mortal world. A wish is granted and now there needs to be a solution to undoing said wish. This is a true homage to "be careful what you wish for." This was a truly enjoyable read.

Robin is back and better than ever!

Lord, what fools these mortals be! Robin Goodfellow returns once again to give us his account of foolish mortals and their ability to maybe fall in love. This story has a couple of storylines to monitor, but it ultimately follows the Caesar family as their siblings experience adventure, love, mischief, wish-granting, and more! I think we got a wonderful extra slice of life in this book that perhaps was a bit more focused in "Mortal Follies."

Once again this is such a creative way to tell a story. I truly think that Alexis Hall is an exceptional storyteller. This is unique in a wonderful way. You get to see this immortal being once again return to observing these mortals who make the worst possible decisions at every turn. AND you get the see all the mischief Robin loves to sow. I just really enjoyed it. Additionally, the love story between Mr. Caesar and Captain James. Ultimately, it is adorable watching these two fall in lust and eventually maybe something more.

The other part of this story was also something different but great. One of Mr. Caesar's siblings has the opportunity for a secret wish to come true. However, whenever faeries (double entendre meant) are involved, things never go according to plan. Mary's adventure to become beautiful was both so heartbreaking and incredibly tender. I enjoyed seeing how this resolved itself and how capricious the faeries could be. It was another layer to this that made it interesting. No faery bargain is ever as easy as it seems. The ending to this particular story thread was beautiful and full of found family and heroics alike.

Readers will LOVE returning to this world of magic and mayhem. Robin makes for an excellent narrator and I cannot wait for our next adventure through the eyes of the devious but well-meaning creature!