Fateful - Book Review *

Fateful by Claudia Gray

What is it about:
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.

What did I think of it:
Some of you may know I'm a sucker for anything to do with Titanic, so when I read that this book was about werewolves on the Titanic I just had to read it.

Sadly enough Gray didn't use the setting to its full advantage.

This story could just as well have taken place at a completely different location. All the Titanic does is keep all characters in this story in a confined space, so they can't get away from each other. Even the sinking isn't really used as a plot device. A shame!

My disappointment over the under-use of the Titanic set aside, this is an entertaining story. The bad guy is acting like a bad guy should, Tess and Alec are a nice, cute couple, there are some interesting side characters and luckily no love triangle.

This book won't end up in my collection of Titanic books, but I just might try something different by Gray in the future.

Why should you read it:
It's an entertaining YA read.




* This review was written in January 2012 and posted before on this blog.
It's reposted here as part of '15 Titanic Days'