Mortal Follies

Set in a magic-infused Regency England and narrated by the hobgoblin Puck, of A Midsummer Night’s Dream fame, this stirring outing from Hall (Boyfriend Material) proves a fresh and delightful addition to the queer romance canon. Maelys Mitchelmore, a noblewoman, falls desperately in love with Lady Georgiana Landrake, nicknamed “the Duke of Annadale,” a rumored witch widely suspected of multiple murders. Their meeting and ensuing romance are both dependent upon and marred by two curses: the first upon Maelys, the second upon the entire House of Annadale. With help from Maelys’s best friend, Miss Bickle, and cousin John, Maelys and Georgiana delve into the world of spirits, witches, and “the Old Gods,” in a quest to undo the curses and be together. Hall achieves this intermingling of history and fantasy admirably, such that all the interpersonal drama of Jane Austen meets all the complex treachery of Greek mythology. Full of adventure, chaos, magic, and lust, this will enthrall Hall’s fans and new readers alike. Agent: Courtney Miller-Callahan, Handspun Literary. (June)