Review: Fateful

Fateful by Claudia Gray

Published September 13th 2011

HarperTeen

328 pages

Reviewed by: Kristy

Eighteen-year-old maid Tess Davies is determined to escape the wealthy, troubled family she serves. It’s 1912, and Tess has been trapped in the employ of the Lisles for years, amid painful memories and twisted secrets. But now the Lisle family is headed to America, with Tess in tow. Once the ship they’re sailing on—the RMS Titanic—reaches its destination, Tess plans to strike out and create a new life for herself.

Her single-minded focus shatters when she meets Alec, a handsome first-class passenger who captivates her instantly. But Alec has secrets of his own. He’s in a hurry to leave Europe, and whispers aboard the ship say it’s because of the tragic end of his last affair with the French actress who died so gruesomely and so mysteriously. . . .

Soon Tess will learn just how dark Alec’s past truly is. The danger they face is no ordinary enemy: werewolves exist and are stalking him—and now her, too. Her growing love for Alec will put Tess in mortal peril, and fate will do the same before their journey on the Titanic is over. (synopsis from goodreads)

My Review: 4 STARS!

I am one of the many who are fascinated by the tragic voyage of the Titanic. When I found out that Claudia Gray was incorporating this doomed voyage of the White Star Line's Titanic with werewolves, I was intrigued! I had the pleasure of meeting Claudia Gray at a book signing and she jokingly/lovingly called this fateful voyage the Were-tanic!

This book has it all, edge-of-your-seat action, panic, heart-stopping suspense, love, passion, hate, death and doom!

Tess Davies is a maid for the Lisle family of England, but she dreams a better life. When her employers book passage to New York on the Titanic, she is certain this is the opportunity she needs to break away from her present life and start a new one for herself in America.

Alec Marlowe is a wealthy American escaping Europe and a terrible secret. He is being pursued by a Brotherhood out to control him and make him a part of their savage group. Alec and his father book passage on the Titanic to escape the clutches of the Brotherhood and eventually hide Alec in a remote American countryside. The Marlowe's soon discover that the Brotherhood have joined them on the Titanic.

There is a constant pull of Tess staying within her duties as a maid and her desire to know and help first class passenger Alec Marlowe. Tess gives us a brilliant view of the workings behind the pomp and circumstance of first class. Behind every wealthy family their are servants making all the preparations and holding all the families dirty little secrets.

Then we have Alec. He is distinguished, handsome, gentle, kind, a true gentleman without the condescending air of the wealth, but he has a few secrets and they are deadly and could hurt Tess.

Don't forget that they are on the fateful Titanic! Who, if any, will survive? Pull out your tissues boxes for this book and sit down for the first and final voyage of Were-tanic!