I'm Forever Yours, Fatefully

Published: September 13th, 2011

Fateful
By: Claudia Gray
HarperTeen
ISBN-13: 9780062006202


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.
In Fateful, New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray delivers paranormal adventure, dark suspense, and alluring romance set against the opulent backdrop of the Titanic’s first—and last—voyage.

Review

   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.*