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20sidedbi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Blood
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Murder, Violence, Transphobia, Sexual content, and Kidnapping
Minor: Classism, Sexual violence, and Racism
hazel_oat's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Animal death, Medical content, Kidnapping, Violence, Abandonment, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Homophobia, Sexism, and Sexual content
Minor: Racism, Transphobia, Lesbophobia, and Slavery
crossingtheratterlin's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, and Animal death
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Transphobia, Misogyny, and Kidnapping
flashandoutbreak's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Kidnapping, Murder, and Sexual content
queentau's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
I normally love fantasy with a little sapphic romance, but this book wasn't quite for me. (Mild spoilers to follow)
I found the plot a little too predictable, especially the middle third when they're trying to figure out who the villain is; I knew who cursed her the instant we met them and they never even thought of their name as a suspect over the next 100+ pages. Next, where the middle act was slow, the last act, which featured a largely separate plot arc, felt rushed, and a little too easy.
When it comes to the romance, I really hate an "I'm no good for you" rejection and the other poor communication that comes with it. To me that really ruined both the romantic tension and the romantic payoff, which was a piece of the book I had really been looking forward to.(Also, the love interest having a kink for women crying was a choice lol)
Lastly, I found the narrator kinda annoying. Like, I get it, I know who they are from a literary context, I love the idea, and at times I even enjoyed it! But sometimes it also became a little distracting. (At this point I'm also kinda nit-picking though, cause this really wasn't a huge issue to me)
Overall I did still enjoy reading Mortal Follies though! And I enjoyed the mix of a wide variety of supernatural elements in the world building. But to me, the pacing was off, the plot was predictable, and the romance was unsatisfying.
I found the plot a little too predictable, especially the middle third when they're trying to figure out who the villain is; I knew who cursed her the instant we met them and they never even thought of their name as a suspect over the next 100+ pages. Next, where the middle act was slow, the last act, which featured a largely separate plot arc, felt rushed, and a little too easy.
When it comes to the romance, I really hate an "I'm no good for you" rejection and the other poor communication that comes with it. To me that really ruined both the romantic tension and the romantic payoff, which was a piece of the book I had really been looking forward to.
Lastly, I found the narrator kinda annoying. Like, I get it, I know who they are from a literary context, I love the idea, and at times I even enjoyed it! But sometimes it also became a little distracting. (At this point I'm also kinda nit-picking though, cause this really wasn't a huge issue to me)
Overall I did still enjoy reading Mortal Follies though! And I enjoyed the mix of a wide variety of supernatural elements in the world building. But to me, the pacing was off, the plot was predictable, and the romance was unsatisfying.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping and Sexism
rabblearouser's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Our world has been in dire need of a spritely, swoon-worthy sapphic romance– Alexis Hall has answered the call.
This journey into the fae-core romance space is an underrated, ambitious undertaking outfitted with a thoughtful and whimsical mosaic of fae & queer lore alike. As always, every character is intentionally crafted and delightful. Our love interests are a brooding Duke (f) who’s rumored to have wielded dark magic to commit grave crimes and a precious, flower-child damsel with terrible luck… or something like it. If you’re an ACOTAR stan who swooned at Azriel & Elain’s stolen moments but are impatient for Elain’s actual character development or perhaps just craving more of who she becomes when Azriel lends her some teeth (not to mention some queer characters who actually kiss), I might have a recommendation. Alexis Hall can’t help being charming and hilarious so there’s plenty of that, of course.
I imagine what puts people off is the unconventional narration. The point of view is not one of the main characters but, instead, a mischievous mythical creature who many of us first encountered when reading Midsummer Night’s Dream back in high school. Once you get past the initial novelty, this choice brings new life to some tired tropes and settings by filtering them through the scrutiny of an unimpressed and often peeved otherworldly perspective. I know it sounds odd but it works and, frankly, the book is all the better for it. Truly, what will always make a sapphic romance even more queer is an impish narrator rolling their eyes at lesbian nonsense, and perhaps, caring more than they’d care to admit by the end.
In a romance space where it can feel like we’re reading the same stories again and again, Mortal Follies is an eclectic and thoroughly queer love story that I’m proud to have on my shelf. Thank you to Alexis Hall for writing this and gifting it to the world.
This journey into the fae-core romance space is an underrated, ambitious undertaking outfitted with a thoughtful and whimsical mosaic of fae & queer lore alike. As always, every character is intentionally crafted and delightful. Our love interests are a brooding Duke (f) who’s rumored to have wielded dark magic to commit grave crimes and a precious, flower-child damsel with terrible luck… or something like it. If you’re an ACOTAR stan who swooned at Azriel & Elain’s stolen moments but are impatient for Elain’s actual character development or perhaps just craving more of who she becomes when Azriel lends her some teeth (not to mention some queer characters who actually kiss), I might have a recommendation. Alexis Hall can’t help being charming and hilarious so there’s plenty of that, of course.
I imagine what puts people off is the unconventional narration. The point of view is not one of the main characters but, instead, a mischievous mythical creature who many of us first encountered when reading Midsummer Night’s Dream back in high school. Once you get past the initial novelty, this choice brings new life to some tired tropes and settings by filtering them through the scrutiny of an unimpressed and often peeved otherworldly perspective. I know it sounds odd but it works and, frankly, the book is all the better for it. Truly, what will always make a sapphic romance even more queer is an impish narrator rolling their eyes at lesbian nonsense, and perhaps, caring more than they’d care to admit by the end.
In a romance space where it can feel like we’re reading the same stories again and again, Mortal Follies is an eclectic and thoroughly queer love story that I’m proud to have on my shelf. Thank you to Alexis Hall for writing this and gifting it to the world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and Sexual content
Moderate: Homophobia and Transphobia
megj23's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Kidnapping, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual content and Cursing
Minor: Rape and Homophobia
ctara2123's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Misogyny, Kidnapping, Blood, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Sexual assault
ramakn22's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Misogyny, Transphobia, Classism, Homophobia, Sexual content, Stalking, Rape, Death, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Emotional abuse
bookcheshirecat's review
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
“But fleeing the law is rather easier if you do it before the law knows it is being fled from.”
➽ Mortal Follies is another trademark fun, romantic story by Alexis Hall! It's set in 1814 and follows Miss Maelys Mitchelmore who has been cursed and is trying to desperately avoid a scandal when a ton of bad luck befalls her. It begins with some harmless, but embarrassing incidents, but quickly turns more dangerous. Maelys seeks help from Lady Georgianna Landrake, who has a questionable reputation herself, but might be the only person who can help her! I loved their interactions and her friendship with Lizzie! She was especially funny and entertaining, I'd love to have her as a friend!
➽ The story is told from the POV of Robin, a hobgoblin who loves following along with mortal stories. I loved the unique narrator and Robin's witty commentary on Maelys' story. They are always keen to follow an interesting, dramatic story and are invested in Maelys' personal scandals! I do think that the story felt very drawn out and longer than it had to be. There were quite a few subplots that I felt went nowhere! Robin as a narrator was fun, but I got a bit tired of their detached, omniscient perspective at times!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Animal death, Violence, Death, Kidnapping, and Murder
Minor: Rape, Homophobia, and Death of parent