This was a surprisingly good read, although I think part of the reason for that was because I had really low expectations to begin with. I was expecting a typical paranormal plot... which it kind of was, but despite all the cliches, I became very engrossed in the story and came to like most of the characters.

Tess is the maid of the once-wealthy Lisle family, accompanying them on their journey to the United States aboard the RMS Titanic. She is secretly planning to leave her service with the family once in New York, in hopes of making a new life for herself in the new country. But even before she steps aboard the famous steamship, she runs into some trouble involving the handsome Alexander Marlowe and his dangerous companion, Mikhael. With this, she is pulled into a world of dark secrets and romance, all set against the backdrop of the Titanic's first and last voyage.

Although the plot used many familiar tropes, there are a few unexpected twists. Claudia Gray did a good job in keeping them secret and revealing each one slowly over the course of the book. The characters are basically all familiar archetypes, but I did like that Tess was described as very pragmatic, even to the point of another character pointing out the fact that she lacks imagination.

Gray also tried to flesh out the minor characters, and I felt that is was mostly done well. I enjoyed seeing the contrast between Tess' life of servitude and the lifestyles of the Lisle family. I would have like a bit more information about Mikhael. As a villain, his motivations were explained but more so in the context of the greater Brotherhood; I would have like to see a bit more information about him personally, why he's so loyal to the Brotherhood, etc. The Brotherhood itself could have used some fleshing out. It's supposed to be this big scary organization but I didn't quite feel that from the book.

The romance developed quite quickly but that is to be expected when the ship had less than a week to journey. You can argue that it's unrealistic, but this is one of the few times that the whole instant connection trope actually worked for me. Psychologically speaking, attraction is heightened when there's some sort of stimulation to put the person in an excited state. Being in this state tends to amplify any emotions a person might have. In this case, the feelings of excitement, trepidation, uncertainty and hope that came with being on the Titanic, on her journey towards a new life, would be more than enough of a stimulant for Tess. All the roiling emotions would have put her in a more high-strung/excited state, so when confronted with a handsome young man, it's understandable that she'd be quickly attracted to him. I also liked the fact that Gray did not skirt around the issue of sex, especially with the historical setting, and addressed it head on.

The setting was not used as well as it could. There is a lot of name-dropping of turn-of-the-century historical figures, which really added nothing to the story and seemed more like Gray's misguided attempt to sound knowledgeable. The author's note at the end of the book reveals that while she did do some research for the novel, she was not terribly concerned with the details. This definitely showed, as it often felt like the research Gray did for the book consisted of rewatching James Cameron's movie. (On that note, fans of Cameron's Titanic would definitely enjoy this book, as it has all the romance and drama that the movie is known for.) I will say that knowledge of the Titanic's fate did add a layer of suspense to the novel. Readers will be on the edge of their seats, anticipating the big event, and wondering what it will mean for the characters. ( )

Werewolves on the titanic. Really? ( )

Pretty good. Pretty good.

It's always funny reading a book loosely based on a historic diaster.

I knew the book was going to sink, I knew it was coming. April 14th. But when that part of the book came I was scared. I wanted to know what was going to happen next. But I knew!!

It definitely held my attention. Throwing in a werewolf too. It's a book after my own heart. I loved it.

I wanted the love story between Alec and Tess to work sooooo bad. Class barriers need to be broken. Even in fiction. ( )

Due stelle e mezza.
Mi aspettavo sicuramente di più visto quanto mi è piaciuta la saga di Evernight.
La causa si può forse attribuire all'ambientazione, ovvero la nave del Titanic, in quanto anche il film non è stato uno dei miei preferiti.
Inotre i due protagonisti si innamorano fin troppo in fretta, senza contare che tutti i personaggi sono assolutamente prevedibili. C'è però da dire che in un paio di scene mi sono lievemente commossa. L'autrice è riuscita anche questa volta ad esprimere al meglio sia i momenti di tensione che quelli più romantici, e sono presenti anche alcuni colpi di scena (sebbene l'ultimo mi abbia lasciata piuttosto scettica perché sconvolge un po' troppo la figura del lupo mannaro).
Resta il fatto che Fateful è una storia senza troppe pretese, dalla trama lineare che forse sarebbe meglio rendere più complicata per coinvolgere il lettore.
( )

Fateful. It is fate that I found this book. Seriously, it rescued me from fallen angel hades and took me back in time. To something I have always been fascinated with. The Titanic. I was in fifth grade when the movie came out. It was the first actual adult movie I was ever interested in, I was never interested in TV much as a kid. My grandmother took me to see it, I cried like a baby. I can't even tell you the kinda feels that movie gave me. Even now at 28 I still die a little inside everytime I watch it. Reading this book, gave me those same kinda feels..except, thank God, *spoiler alert* this book had a happy ending.

This book takes you on the incredible journey of the Titanics's voyage and sinking. But by the time the actual sinking occurs you will be so engrossed by the unfolding story, that you will be taken by surprise. Also did I mention that this book has werewolves? Because it does. And it is magnificent.

This is the story of 18yr old Tess. A ladies maid to a wealthy family. Tess doesn't plan to be a maid forever. As the family she works for is sailing to America on the Titanic's maiden voyage. She plans to ditch the family as soon as the ship docks and rebuild her life in America. What her plans don't include: falling in love.

Alec is a first class passenger. Born into wealth, his life seems to be that of any other young heir. That he will marry well and take over the family business. However, normal is not in the cards for Alec. He harbors a dark secret, one that will deter the course if his life forever.

If you haven't figured it out yet...he's a werewolf! Yay!

On the run from a brotherhood of werewolves that seek him out, to join their pack. Alec wishes to remove himself from his family's name and live a life in solitude. However strange circumstances throw Tess and Alec together and over the course of a few days they fall in love. But the road to happily ever after for these two will not be met without obstacles.

A fight for freedom against a crazed brotherhood, the improbability of two different classes of people mixing, during a time when wealth and titles were everything and tragedy that will shake the world or its very core. Two young lovers stand to lose everything they've hoped and dreamed for. Even their lives.

This was a good one y'all! I liked this even better than The Siren. And that happens to be my favorite book, so I guess I have a new fave!

Nothing melts my heart more than a historical romance. I know I've said that before and I will most likely say it again. But it's something that will always ring true for me. The romance portrayed in this book was literally heart pounding. Tess and Alec may have fallen in love over the course of a few days, but this was no insta love I assure you. Annnd my favorite part... unlike most ya books, neither of them hated each other to begin with. Alec wasn't a jerk to her, he didn't try to make her stay away from him bc of what he was. In fact quite the opposite. They knew how they felt about each other and they were happy to show it to the other. Thier romance established beautifully. And the inevitable doom that lie ahead of them made it that much sweeter. My heart twisted in hope and heartbreak everytime they were together.

This story had plenty of twists and unforseen circumstances to keep you on your toes, wondering what would happen next. The actual sinking and Titanic storyline was tastefully done. I like how the author mixed enough reality and fictional aspects together to tie the two stories together. While the story of the Titanic is fascinating on its own, this was very fun and unique twist.

Action is this book was on point. There was never a dull moment. And can I take a few to talk about the characters in this book? Tess. Is my all time favorite character, she had actual thoughts. He mind didn't dwell on Alec 24/7. While she does love and miss him and want to be with him, she's a practical girl and knows that the chances they have of being together are slim to none. Alec was a great character as well. This story is told from Tess's pov, so while we don't see what happens to him while Tess isn't around we see enough to know the kind of man he is and that he's genuinely a good person that truly loves Tess and would do anything to be with her and protect her.

The secondary characters were very well done also. I basically just loved this book and everything in it.

The historical aspect of this book is what drew me in, but the fantasy part kept me reeling. Absolutely a worthy read! ( )

This novel, as you can tell if you've read the summary above, is set on the Titanic. I thought this was a really cool and unique setting for a novel, as I haven't read any fantasy/paranormal novels set on the Titanic. The author has obviously spent some time researching this, as the historical accuracy was impressive.

The novel revolves around a girl called Tess who is a ladies maid to the Lisle family, who are travelling to America. The plot was ok, it wasn't anything wonderfully special, nothing very unique about it. It was quite fast paced, however, I started and finished it in one day. The descriptions were ok, not too frequent as to break up the flow of the novel, but enough to make sure you knew what was going on.

The main character is Tess, who was an ok main character. She was quite practical and wasn't as weak as normal YA female characters tend to be. She was sensible and quite brave and level headed. The only problem I had with her was how easily she coped with seeing boys turn into werewolves right infront of her. If that had been me, I would have been freaking out, but she hardly batted an eyelid.

The romantic love interest in this novel was Alec, an upper class passenger, that saves Tess from another werewolf. He again was an ok character, but he doesn't reallystand out in my mind thinking back on the book.

The villain of the novel was Mikhail, another werewolf. He was a pretty cool baddie, he was quite menacing but again he wasn't anything special.

SPOILER COMING UP!







The ending of this novel really annoyed me. I felt it was really cliched, I would have prefered it if she hadn't put in the "happily ever after" I can't believe she brought them back to life. It felt like a bit of a rip off.





SPOILERS FINISHED



I felt that some of the things the two main characters, Tess and Alec said were sickly sweet, and not things that a normal teenager would say, even taking the time period into account.

This novel is written from Tess' point of view, which allows us to read exactly what she is thinking, and I think the author made good use of the reader's intimacy with Tess' thoughts and feelings to really develop the novel.

Overall I thought this was an ok novel (apparent by the number of times I've said "ok" in this review! 4 times if you're interested!), I gave it 3/5 stars. ( )

Considering this is a book about werewolves on the Titanic, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed "Fateful". The story is quite a page turner, especially once the ship starts to sink. However, I did find the relationship between Alec and Tess not really believable. They seemed to lack chemistry and I never felt they truly loved each other despite what they said and did. Regardless, this will be a popular book for girls who enjoy paranormal romances. ( )

It is April of 1912 and Tess has been in service to the Lisles for most of her life. Due to their diminishing financial circumstances the Lisles undertake an overseas voyage to America to hopefully arrange a profitable marriage for the daughter. Tess decides that her meager savings would be well spent leaving the employ of this overbearing family and starting out on her own in this new country. Unfortunately, someone is after her and she does not know why or what it is they want until one fateful night she is accosted in the streets of London by a wolf and saved by a mysterious young man. Of course, seeing this young man again on the ship is a strange coincidence indeed. Is her life now truly in the hands of fate? Sailing on the Titanic with two werewolves certainly cannot bode well.

This was a fun read. A little bit of a different take on the werewolf theme, but totally plausible if you are willing to entertain the existence of paranormal creatures. As the reader I felt making the ill-fated ocean liner the setting for the book was brilliant. I knew the iceberg was coming along and it kept me turning the pages even when the story was working through parts that were a little slow. Well-done Ms. Gray.
( )

Fateful is the story of Tess Davies, a maid traveling on the Titanic with her employers, the Lisle family. The day before they set off, Tess has a strange encounter with a young man and a very large wolf. She survives, thanks to the young man who gives her a cold warning to leave, and tries to put the night behind her to focus on her secret plans to leave the mostly cruel Lisles as soon as they get to America. But nearly at once when she boards the ship, she finds herself thrust into the world of the supernatural. And an intense connection to Alec Marlowe, the young man who saved her life the night before.

I, admittedly, have a thing for stories about the Titanic. An obsession that has as much to do with the Windows 95 game, Titanic: Adventure Out of Time, as the well-known movie. I'm drawn to the tragedy in a way I can't quite explain. I think most people have a certain historical event that fascinates them. Titanic is mine.

So, when I saw a pretty cover in the YA section of Barnes and Noble a few years ago, and opened the flap to see this was a book about the Titanic - and werewolves, of all things! - I was sold. But as things often go with me, I buy books I know I'm likely to enjoy, but let them sit around because I have so many others to pick from. I'm kind of sorry I waited so long on this one, but I also like to believe in divine timing, so I'm just really glad I read it now.

Enough about me, though. This book has an amazing story, with what I feel is a well-fleshed out hero AND heroine. I think that is sometimes hard to find, authors tending to favor one character's development over the other, particularly in stand-alone novels. We find out as much about Tess's family and backstory as with do with Alec's, making them both feel real. The romance between them also what I love to read: an instantaneous connection without sacrificing the characters actually getting to know each other. You CAN have the feeling of fated romance without feeling the: why are they already jumping in bed together when they barely know each other? And this book does that for me, leaving me so very invested in the characters and their love by the time the sinking starts, that I was crying and shaking through the last 50 pages or so of the book.

The fantasy side of the book is also very compelling and interesting, which made me wish this weren't a stand-alone novel, even if that meant more of a spin-off sort of situation. It certainly makes me interested in checking out Claudia Gray's other books. I may or may not find characters I love as much as I found myself loving Tess and Alec, and even some of the side characters, but I certainly feel like based on this book it's a safe bet I'll find an interesting story.

I admire Claudia Gray a lot for setting out to write this novel - partly because I, too, once wrote a paranormal romance taking place aboard the Titanic, with cameos and references to Titanic: Adventure Out of Time, among other things. As with many of the stories I wrote when I was young, I've never given up hope of reviving it, but I've often worried over whether or not it would be right to mix fantasy with a terrible tragedy that ended the lives of so many real people. But based on the story and the author's notes, Claudia Gray approached this question with what I feel was the right attitude. She tried not to make more than a casual mention of actual people aboard the ship, and instead focused on the fictional characters she created.

And that's about all I'll say on Fateful for now. I don't want to give too much away, and with a book about the Titanic, you already know more than you should going in! Still, I highly recommend this book, and I'm so glad I got to start out 2015 with a book I truly loved the whole way through. ( )

Excellent! The paranormal romance of werewolf vs. human is lively enough in itself, but when those are added to the details of the Titanic and its sinking, you get an abundance of romance, suspense and sense of impending doom. Reliving the scenes where the Titanic meets its doom is sure to make even the most jaded reader choke up with emotion. ( )

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Title : Fateful
Series : -
Pages : 325
Author : Claudia Gray
Publisher : Harperteen
Format : Paperback
Source : Library - Borrowed for Free

My Opinion : Fateful is a mix of the Titanic and Nightshade y Andrea Cremer (or anything werewolfy). Oh, and add a little Romeo and Juliet to the mix, then stir a little, and you get *drum rolls*... Fateful by acclaimed author Claudia Gray!

Fateful is an awesome book that keeps you gripping your seat all the while you are reading it. The story is quite particular and is set in 1912. The main character is Tess, a poor maid of the Lisle, a long rich family, but now penniless because of one of its child gambling problems. She is really nice and selfless, and she embarks on the Titanic with the Lisle and falls in love with Alec, a werewolf, and one of Alec's fellow werewolf sets his sight on her, and won,t think twice about killing her for fun. And lets add the ship sinking along that.

I liked the characters, except for Lady Regina and one of her sons with a name that starts with an L and doesn't end with oser and Mikhail... Anyways, I really liked the characters; they each added something to the story that was particular. I personally liked Irene a lot. She was sweet, unlike her mother.

The writing was fluffy and serious. I have fallen in love with her writing since Evernight, and I've just fallen deeper. It's fun to read, easy and fast-paced.

I really love the cover, if you compare it to the other one *pukes*:


Anyways, awesome read!
( )

Werewolves on the Titanic? Sounds a little weird, but then I swore up and down I would never read a book about vampires (Twilight), either, and I loved that. So, as weird as it sounds, it was actually quite good. Or at least I mildly enjoyed it. ( )

It’s a cross-class werewolf romance set on the Titanic! I had little use for the James Cameron film, but I thought it worked a lot better to have a key confrontation interrupted by the icy water rushing into the venue. Plucky servant girl saves mysterious wealthy stranger with the power of her love, and some well-placed silver; lots of historical detail, including everyone acknowledging just how unlikely the wealthy man was to wed the servant girl. But that’s one dream of America, right? ( )

Tess, an English lady's maid, is about to go on the adventure of her lifetime. She is traveling with her employers, the Lisles, to New York on the new ship, Titanic. The night before they depart, Tess is followed by a strange man and aided by an even stranger man. When she discovers that both of these men are fellow travelers, Tess is concerned to say the least. But she has big plans. When she gets to America she intends to stay and make a new life. So she tries to forget them and move on. When the younger man comes to her aide again she can't help but be attracted to him despite the difference in their classes. Will their love survive his dark secret? Will they survive the voyage?

I just love Claudia Gray's writing. She never fails to draw me in. This book is just as good as her Evernight series. The historical setting, the looming disaster, the whole werewolf thing add an air of suspense to even Tess's most mundane tasks. Gray really knows how to write romance too. The ship board romance is charming and Alec, our hero, is just adorable. Although their love seems doomed from the start, you can't help but hope they will make it. I really hope we will see more of Tess. ( )

Tess Davies is a maid and tired of being trapped in a society where upward mobility is practically impossible. She has dreams and ambitions that can't be realized in England. Luckily, the family she works for is taking the RMS Titanic to America, where dreams come true every day. She could get a fresh start and get away from her awful (and actually broke) employers. She just has to survive the voyage there. The night before the voyage, she is attacked by a horrible man and saved by a handsome young man. She dismisses the incident as an act of random violence. On board, she realizes both these men are also passengers and her attacker, Mikhail, continues to harass her. The younger man, Alec, continues to save her and she is drawn into a power struggle between the two men. Mikhail wants to enlist Alec into the Brotherhood, a nefarious organization for werewolves that has power on every level of society. Can Alec keep away from the Brotherhood and keep them from hurting Tess? Can Tess escape her horrible employers and start an new life in America?

When I picked up this book, I just thought it was a historical fiction romance set on the Titanic. But then BAM: werewolves. I was a little shocked, but continued reading anyway. I usually really hate books about werewolves because good characters inevitably become raging jerks with the only change being a werewolf in a great many other books. Thankfully, this wasn't the case. Alec was a perfectly nice character, but not much about him was that interesting beyond his lycanthropy. There didn't seem to be much reason for Tess to fall head over heels except that he's pretty and rich. The werewolf Brotherhood served as the main villains of the story and they upheld very traditional and misogynistic views. They viewed themselves as close to gods and women as inferior and therefore unworthy of such power. The other, lesser villains were the Lyle's, Tess's employers. They also represented tradition and the old society where the poor stay poor. Their family represents hypocrisy, privilege, and a deep rooted sense of entitlement. These two villains were shown to be quite the same. Both used intimidation and their power to belittle and use others for their own amusement. The werewolf organization exposed the harsh realities and truths behind English society during the time period and exaggerated them. This was my favorite aspect of the novel.

Tess was a wonderful character. She seemed like a modern girl stuck in a past era where the poor and women didn't have very many opportunities to become successful. I loved her firecracker personality and the way she cared for everyone around her no matter their station. Her romance with Alec was a little boring. It was another case of instalove where their relationship is essentially built on nothing. Tess's relationships with her friends were much more dynamic and interesting because they seemed organically built.

Fateful was a fun, fast read. I wished that the sinking of the Titanic took a little more time than it did, but overall, I enjoyed the story. Although I like that it's a stand alone book, I wouldn't mind reading more about Tess and her future. ( )

I enjoy reading Claudia Gray's work with vampires, but now werewolves! I was excited, and I enjoyed it. I liked how even in incorperating the voyage of the Titanic she kept the historical integrity of it for the most part. Q5P5 AHS/Jacklyn P

Reading this book was such an enjoyable experience! The author has brilliantly woven fact and fiction together to result in an amazing story. Mixing the paranormal aspect of werewolves with the historical events of the Titanic may sound outlandish, but believe me when I say that once you begin reading you will find that these two concepts work so well together! There's really never a dull moment in this book; the excitement starts immediately and just continues to flow throughout the plot, never wavering. Claudia Gray does such a splendid job of painting a clear and historical picture of 1912 and the Titanic. She also knows how to write one heck of a romance!

This story is told through the perspective of Tess Davies, who is a ladies' maid to a wealthy (and mostly snooty) family, the Lisles, in the year 1912. She's a young woman with a kind heart and big dreams of escaping the servitude of the Lisles family. The opportunity to start a new life in America arises when Tess' employers plan a voyage aboard the Titanic, and as you can imagine, gaining her freedom becomes the least of her worries after a while. Not just because of the peril she'll be put in aboard the Titanic, but also because of the chain of events that unfold after a chance meeting with a handsome stranger, Alec.

Tess is such a great character, and her situation as a poor citizen and servant seems like a very accurate depiction of what it must have been like for people like her back then. This is why when she meets the mysterious Alec, their growing attraction to one another is severely frowned upon because of his status as a wealthy young man and her status as a poor servant girl. Not to mention the supernatural circumstances that surround Alec could easily complicate a relationship on their own. But despite all of the obstacles, dark secrets, and anguish in their way, Tess and Alec are very strong-willed people, and it's clear that they belong together. I was certainly rooting for them throughout the entire book!

One of the things that is so fantastic about this book is that there is one thing the reader knows is going to happen for certain, above all else, and that is the sinking of the Titanic. You know whats coming but you have no idea how the author is going to portray it and what will become of the characters. There were times, though, when I would be so wrapped up in the intensity of Tess and Alec's situation, as well as the malevolent secondary characters, that I found myself randomly remembering, "Oh yeah, this ship is going to be sinking any day now! Holy crap!". That just goes to show you how much is going on within the span of almost a week. But approaching the end of the book and reading about the ship going down is truly a chilling experience, and the author makes you feel like you're right there in the chaos and tragedy. Knowing the outcome of the Titanic, however, still doesn't prepare you for the excitement and conclusion of the book!

So if you enjoy anything involving the Titanic (or even if you don't!), werewolves, seriously creepy characters, and a fantastic romance, then definitely pick up Fateful A.S.A.P.! It will far exceed your expectations. ( )

I really enjoyed this book. Mind, I didn't expect to at all. I mean: werewolves on the Titanic? Really? But this book far surpassed all of my expectations. It was awesome.
The main character, a lady's maid named Tess, is a strong young woman. She isn't weak or annoying like a lot of people find heroines to be nowadays. She's hardworking, headstrong, and a great main character for a reader to look at.

The history of the ship and the time period is what I really enjoyed. I'm a sucker for historical YA, and this delivered. The descriptions aren't overdone, but it's easy to imagine the opulence of the ship. The facts and names of people on the ship are really interesting.
One night, in the middle of this book, I decided to watch the movie The Titanic and I loved matching up facts and rooms and people that show up in both of them.

This book is a romance, so I should touch on that. :) Tess's relationship with the male lead, a rich young man who happens to be a werewolf, is developed really fast--which I don't really enjoy--but somehow it felt believable. Their feelings seemed real and plausible.

The minor characters in this book were a treat, too! Tess's shipmate Myriam is snarky and fun and she develops a romance too. It's not a major plot point, but it's definitely enjoyable. The young woman Tess watches after, Irene also has a romance later in the novel, but The God of No Spoilers won't say who. :)
The evil woman who Tess works for, Mrs. Regina Lisle is convincingly cruel and doesn't seem overwrought.

The only thing I didn't enjoy was some of the werewolf mythology. Everything fit together a little too nicely to be believable. The situation with the main villain, Mikhail, is interesting but the way it ended was a bit unsatisfying. (But I guess that's what's nice about creating your own mythology, you do what you want.)

Overall, this book is incredibly enjoyable, especially if you're a fan of historical and/or fantasy YA. ( )

Now who says werewolves and the Titanic don't go together? ( )

Never have I ever seen an author pull off such a great take on the tragic story of the RMS Titanic. Even, oh my gosh, werewolves! Who would have thought of putting werewolves into the Titanic? Well, Claudia Gray did and so very expertly, if I may say so myself.

When I heard that werewolves were among the passengers of the RMS Titanic, I wondered how Claudia Gray intended to write about them since the werewolves needed to change their form, how she would write about how they hunt, and how would their lives be like. Sure enough, I think Claudia Gray did an excellent job of inserting werewolves into the story. From how they become wolves to how and when they transform. This was my first time reading any of Claudia Gray's novels, and she has given me such a great impression on her writing and her books.

With the historical fiction part in Fateful, I was taken out of this century and put into the 1912s with Tess and the rest of the characters. The cruelty of Lisle family towards Tess was so believable because during that time period those actions toward the servants weren't uncommon. Readers would be rooting for Tess to get away from her employers. Irene Lisle, though, was a delicate lady, and someone who you'll root for as well, despite who her family is.

Tess is a strong character. She's someone who has her mind set on her one goal: getting to New York and starting a new life for herself, one where she isn't under the rule of the Lisles. She is somewhat compassionate and very driven. She later on gives Alec the hope he needs. I had no problems with Tess, so it looks like Claudia Gray's got a well-written main character here.

Tess' relationship with Alec is one that, in a way, touches your heart. Here is a monster who has no choice but to transform every night or join the Brotherhood, then you have a servant living under a headache of an employer, and when you put them together they fill in the places that each of them has been missing. Tess is there for Alec, and she cares deeply about him. It's the same way for Alec, he cares deeply for Tess and doesn't care what rank she is, even if she's at the bottom of the social ladder.

The villain in Fateful was a pain in the ass. But a good pain in the ass, at the least. He was such an annoyance and so evil that you wanted to find out what he does and what happens to him in the end. From the very first time Mikhail comes into the picture, I knew he was trouble. He really proved himself to be a villain and one that you wanted gone.

With a story set in the 1912s, there's bound to be some drama. Well, of course there is and you can't help but feel bad for those who have been affected. I won't spoil too much, but the relationship between two characters and their stories caught me off guard.

Fateful, can be seen as a story about forbidden love. Forbidden love doesn't only apply to vampires, wolves, and other paranormal creatures, but to humans too. And the fact that servants aren't meant to be with the rich, indeed spells forbidden love. What I love about Fateful is that it has many cases about forbidden love. And each character who finds themselves in it, pushes to be able to be with their loved one.

The plot is an exciting one with great additional characters. The ending completely took me off guard and Claudia Gray's descriptions about the Titanic's disastrous demise was heartbreaking and beautifully written, making the reader feel as if they were there themselves, watching as the unsinkable ship was pulled deeper into the water.

In Fateful, Claudia Gray masterfully takes historical fiction and paranormal romance together with perfect balance, creating an enthralling story that will keep the readers up for days just wanting to see whether their beloved characters would survive or not. This is a great read and I urge everyone to pick it up! ( )

Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: Though the writing leaves something to be desired, this story has a great hook! Gray brings the sense of impending doom to the reader as Tessa and Alec race to save themselves from their enemies on board as well as the Titanic itself.

Opening Sentence: April 9th, 1912 It’s not to late to turn back, I tell myself.

The Review:

I love that the backdrop of this story is the Titanic, even if it’s not the Titanic as we all know it from our favorite Leo movie. Let me start out by saying that this is strictly a fantasy story. Gray explains in the Author’s Note that in order to avoid being disrespectful to the victims of this tragedy all the characters–with one, small exception–are fictional. My only critique of this point is that it seems as if a number of characters were written in to make the plot more convenient. At the same time, she does a great job building up the ship and the people on board.

Tess is a newly appointed ladies’ maid, but she’s worked in the Lisle’s household for years. In the beginning Gray has the problem of allowing Tess to know more information than is logically possible for someone in her position. This once again ties into the convenience factor of the plot. In the beginning Tess is running–literally–an errand for Lady Regina in Southampton, night is closing in and she finds herself face to face with a wolf. The next morning she’s helping the family board the ship, and she runs into two men she’d seen the night before. Alec, our tortured werewolf hero, and Mikhail, part of the Brotherhood sent to force Alec to join them.

The Brotherhood is the supreme power in the world of werewolves. They have complete control of their Initiates and will use any means to bring new werewolves under their control. They hold the strings of very influential people in every country. Throughout the book Alec is fighting the Brotherhood–both for Tess’s life and his own. Now that Mikhail has his eye on her, he wants nothing more than to hunt her for the fun of it.

Throughout the story Tess is trapped in the drama of the Lisle household. It becomes clear that Irene must marry immediately to save the family fortune her brother is set on gambling away every night. It becomes clear to Tess that Mikhail is on the Titanic for more than one reason–no one would willingly want to be Layton Lisle’s friend, after all.

Tess has the extreme misfortune of being a melodramatic heroine to a fabulous hero. Actually, I like most of the male characters in this story. Alec is of course swoon-worthy, but his best friend Ned–the valet for Layton Lisle–has good characterization as well. It’s the female’s I don’t like. The snobbish mother, the shy daughter, the ever-loyal servant–they all follow the stereotypical stock character plot you would expect them to. I found myself skimming those passages to get back to the plot of the story. Tess isn’t the best heroine for this book, but she’s not stupid and she does have a backbone. However, the insta-love she feels for Alec was slightly disconcerting, since she was also freaked out that he would kill her. But she was a nice narrator, if not the most original.

This story has a great plot, though, even if I do find the writing to be subpar in a number of places. I love the setting, the mixture of real life and fantasy that Gray has blended together. As a reader we find ourselves drawn in, waiting for the catastrophe we know will strike. I can’t imagine liking this story if it was set anywhere but the Titanic, because frankly seeing how Tess and Alec worked within the confines of the ship was the most interesting part.

Notable Scene:

Then I feel it again, that prickle at the back of my neck. The hunter’s eyes on its prey. I glance behind me, expecting to see–what? The wolf from the night before? The young man who rescued me, then told me to flee for the sake of my life? I see niether. In the crush, perhaps I can’t see them, but then they wouldn’t be able to see me either. But someone’s watching. I know he’s there, down deep within me, in the place that doesn’t respond to thought or logic, just pure animal instinct.

Someone in this crowd of strangers is watching me.

Someone is hunting me.

FTC Advisory: Harper Teen provided me with a copy of Fateful. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. ( )

With a combination of the every mysterious Titanic and always alluring lore of werewolves, Gray doesn't miss a beat. Her novel, Fateful, is one that will keep you spellbound, whisking you away to a time where glamor and style were of the utmost importance. This novel will appeal to your sense of adventure and your love of the romantic. The majestic and endless ocean is a great setting for this novel and Gray does well in her concise descriptions and active adventures. ( )

Tess is a lady's maid for the Lisle family, members of the English nobility who are traveling to New York City in an effort to regain some of the family's wealth. Tess is keeping a secret, however, that she intends to leave service emigrate to America when the ship makes port. However, Tess' plans are put awry when she meets Alec, a handsome young gentleman with a dark secret that is hunting him and her. With the threat of werewolves looming behind them, Alec and Tess must simply survive until the Titanic makes port.

That's right, it's a novel about werewolves on the Titanic. If you're shaking your head in horror at the things that publishers will put in print, move right along. If you're mildly intrigued and want to know how on earth someone could possibly make this plot work, give it a try. Gray manages to balance supernatural romance with a real historical background fairly deftly. Is it ever truly believable? Not really, but it's fun to read anyway. While some of the dialogue between Tess and Alec can be a little too earnest and the mythology of the werewolves is never fully explained allowing for some plot points to be resolved a little too easily for the discerning reader, it's an enjoyable read nonetheless. Tess is a very strong character and there are hints of Upstairs, Downstairs type drama that makes the novel even more enjoyable. However, be warned that this is much more of a werewolf novel that just happens to be set on the Titanic. The ill-fated ocean liner serves more as a background and impetus for action in the plot, rather than being a focal point of the novel. Not for everyone, but a decent romp if it strikes your fancy. ( )

What could be better than romance, mystery, action, and the Titanic in one story? Not much could beat that combination, but author Claudia Gray manages to make the story even more exciting with the addition of werewolves.

Tess is an admirable character. She can almost be too perfect. Her loyalty to a family who took her on as a servant and then proceeded to not treat her too well is impressive. She goes out of her way to try to save them from drowning and making bad decisions. Her strength is impressive as well. She overcomes her lowly station in life to better herself. Her resilience in following the family onto the ship and heading off into the great unknown without once batting an eye is both surprising and intriguing. Tess's character rounds out the whole story and is the highlight of the novel.

Alec, the love interest, catches Tess's eye right away. He is a handsome, charismatic enigma who just so happens to travel in the first-class. Tess and Alec work around their limitations to try to make a potential relationship work. There are so many obstacles to their romance that the reader will be constantly turning the pages to find out what next obstacle the two must overcome. The secondary characters help round out the novel, but many don't play too huge a part.

The events are very fast-paced, this book is impossible to put down. From start to finish the reader will be rooting for Tess and Alec and crossing his/her fingers about the eventual end of the Titanic. This book is highly recommended to young adult/teen readers. ( )

May I first say that the idea of this story is epic to start with. Werewolves on the Titanic? Sign me up pronto!!! I did fall in love with Tess quite a bith throughout the novel. As a heroine, she is determined, strong and knows her own mind. She also values herself as a person enough to know that Lady Regina, her employer, is a complete and total bee-yotch; that she definitely shouldn't take her too seriously. On the other hand, Lady Regina's daughter Irene is an absolute sweetheart. Also, Tess has a friend in Ned, a young man who is servant to Irene's brother Layton (a complete and total sleazeball). They are voyaging to America because the family is on the brink of financial ruin. Lady Regina hopes to marry off Irene and Layton to wealthy notables in the States to improve their situation. All poor Irene wants is to be left alone. Tess is planning to quit service when they reach America, cause she has enough money finally saved up. Tess and Alec cross paths, with him trying to protect her from Mikhail. Both men are werewolves, but Mikhail is brutal, part of an organization called the Brotherhood. He will stop at nothing to initiate Alec into their ranks and gain control over his mind and body. If he can brutalize Tess along the way for his own pleasure, so much the better. Truly a reprehensible, spine-chilling villain. Tess and Alec are continuously drawn together by their mutual attraction and even as a wolf he can't harm her. The only thing standing in their way is Mikhail and fate itself when the ship strikes an iceberg. Tess' bunkmate Myriam, a Lebanese girl going to her brother in America, is a wonderfully drawn secondary character with a truly beautiful spirit. Who lives and dies; will Tess and Alec live happily ever after? Read to find out! In a major way this book was epic but the relationship between Tess and Alec was majorly unrealistic for the times in the way it progressed. Kind of a turn off for me honestly speaking. But the whole idea of the book worked in a way I never thought possible and it truly surprised me multiple times with its happenings! I loved the setting, plus as the author says in the acknowledgements, she was respectful enough to only characterize her own fictional people. The real people who were on the Titanic were mentioned but not given personalities based on her opinion or story. In the age we live in where Monica Ali is writing fictional books about what Pricess Diana would've been like had she not died (tacky, disrespectful,capitalistc trash IMHO) that is highly refreshing. It was worth it to read this book even though it didn't gain favorite status.

VERDICT: 3.5/5 Stars

*No money was exchanged for this review. This book is now available in stores and online.* ( )