Review: Fallen Grace by Mary Hooper
Fallen Grace
I’m not sure why it is that I find Victorian-era settings of historical fiction so irresistible. Surely, it’s not the lack of sexytimes. I know that sometimes less is more as far as sexual tension goes, but still. I guess the time period is fun. You got orphans, hats, gaslights, Dickens, spiritualism, a cavalcade of awesome. Fallen Grace by Mary Hooper embodies what I love about this historical setting, not just by merely placing characters haphazardly in this era, but by providing a touch that feels Dickensian, but with a female main character.
Grace, title character of Fallen Grace is a fallen woman at tender fifteen. After the pain of losing her baby, it seems Grace’s luck takes a turn for the worst. Did I mention that she has a sister, Lily, who is developmentally disabled? OH and the two sisters are orphans in London? As fate would have it, several outside parties conspire to keep the sisters from claiming what is rightfully theirs.
Now, I know I normally prattle on about the characteristics of the MC, but I thought instead I would ramble on about the bad guys. Fallen Grace harkins back to a time, when being a bad guy meant more than harboring a secret heart of gold, when bad guys were bad guys, and not in need of redemption via woman. That’s right, these are mustache twirling villains of the first class, and that is what I love every once in awhile. The Unwins (the villains) are a clan dealing in the despicable, cashing in on grief. Also, relentless in their social climbing. They are the type of people who don’t tip just to save a buck. Basically people who I’d hate in real life. I felt that intense hate while reading. FYI, I like to hate villains when I read. It gives me a sense of smugness when they get their comeuppance.
Hooper’s style has a historical feel, obviously as this is historical fiction, yet I feel it is accessible to younger readers. I know I felt on-edge while reading. At one point, I peaked ahead to find out if the two sisters were going to get fucked over, but still learn a valuable life lesson. I won’t tell you the conclusion that I came to.
Fallen Grace evokes foggy London streets, old newspapers and lovable orphans, in an overall winning combination.
Disclosure: Received for Review.
Other Reviews:
My Friend Amy
The Neverending Shelf
Pure Imagination
Purchase Fallen Grace here.
This post was written by...
April (Books&Wine) – who has written 1074 posts on Good Books And Good Wine.
April is 24 years old. She is an educator. In her free time she can be found reading, working out, or eating junk food. She often wears her sunglasses at night.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I want this. And I am in love with the cover.
Awesome review, April! I enjoyed this one more than I thought I would. I really loved to hate the Unwins too!
I have a copy of this I need to read and you’ve definitely moved it up my ARC stack, yay HF, foggy streets and legit bad guys.
You had me at “mustache twirling villains.” Haha, but really, this sounds like a good one! Also, the cover… that hair!
Having read a previous book my Mary Hooper, I keep meaning to pick this one up as I’m sure I’d enjoy it. Great review, thanks
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