Cover of Mortal Follies

Mortal Follies

Alexis Hall

The Mortal Follies #1

historical romance(9k)

A cursed debutante must trust a rumoured murderess-witch to survive the 1814 London season — and her own heart.

Content Warnings
death of loved oneviolence/gore

Description

A young noblewoman must pair up with a rumoured witch to ward off a curse.It is the year 1814 and life for a young lady of good breeding has many difficulties. There are balls to attend, fashions to follow, marriages to consider and, of course, the tiny complication of existing in a world swarming with fairy spirits, interfering deities, and actual straight-up sorcerers.Miss Maelys Mitchelmore finds her entry into high society hindered by an irritating curse. It begins innocuously enough with her dress slowly unmaking itself over the course of an evening at a high-profile ball, a scandal she narrowly manages to escape.However, as the curse progresses to more fatal proportions, Miss Mitchelmore must seek out aid, even if it means mixing with undesirable company. And there are few less desirable than Lady Georgianna Landrake—a brooding, alluring young woman sardonically nicknamed “the Duke of Annadale”—who may or may not have murdered her own father and brothers to inherit their fortune. If one is to believe the gossip, she might be some kind of malign enchantress. Then again, a malign enchantress might be exactly what Miss Mitchelmore needs.With the Duke’s help, Miss Mitchelmore delves into a world of angry gods and vindictive magic, keen to unmask the perpetrator of these otherworldly attacks. But Miss Mitchelmore’s reputation is not the only thing at risk in spending time with her new ally. For the rumoured witch has her own secrets that may prove dangerous to Miss Mitchelmore’s heart—not to mention her life.

Books like this

Cover of Redeeming Love

Redeeming Love

Francine Rivers

historical romance
(377k)

A God-fearing man marries a broken prostitute and loves her unconditionally — even as she keeps running away.

forbidden romancemorally grey heroinewallflower heroine

6 tropes in common

Cover of Mistress Suffragette

Mistress Suffragette

Diana Forbes

historical romance
(5k)

In Gilded Age Newport, a penniless suffragette must choose between her principles and a charming, dangerous millionaire.

forbidden romanceopposites attractwallflower heroine

6 tropes in common

Cover of Beneath The Loch

Beneath The Loch

S.D. Simper

dark romance
(582)

Betrothed to a man she doesn't want, Mairi returns to the fae she kissed as a child — and strikes a dangerous bargain.

fae romanceforbidden romanceblack cat heroine

8 tropes in common

Cover of Fingersmith

Fingersmith

Sarah Waters

historical romance
(120k)

A thief sent to con a sheltered heiress into an asylum finds herself falling for her mark instead.

forbidden romanceblack cat heroinemorally grey heroine

8 tropes in common

Cover of The Vine Witch

The Vine Witch

Luanne G. Smith

historical romanceThe Vine Witch #1
(57k)

A witch emerges from a seven-year curse to find her vineyard stolen — and its new owner dangerously charming.

forbidden romanceopposites attractmorally grey heroine

6 tropes in common

Cover of Sense and Sensibility

Sense and Sensibility

Jane Austen

historical romanceJane Austen: Marvel Adaptations
(1.3M)

Two sisters — one all sense, one all feeling — navigate love, loss, and society's cruel rules in Regency England.

forbidden romanceopposites attractblack cat heroine

5 tropes in common

Cover of Then Came You (The Gamblers of Craven's, #1)

Then Came You (The Gamblers of Craven's, #1)

Lisa Kleypas

historical romanceThe Gamblers of Craven's #1
(34k)

A reckless hellion sets out to ruin an arrogant earl's plans — and ignites a dangerous desire neither can escape.

forbidden romanceopposites attractblack cat heroine

7 tropes in common

Cover of As Many Souls as Stars

As Many Souls as Stars

Natasha Siegel

gothic romance
(3k)

A demon hunts a witch across centuries to claim her soul — but desire may undo them both.

forbidden romanceblack cat heroinemorally grey heroine

7 tropes in common

Cover of A Game of Love and Betrayal

A Game of Love and Betrayal

Elayna R. Gallea

romantasyThe Choosing Chronicles #1
(14k)

A vampire enters a dating competition to win — then murder — the fae lord who killed her family.

fae romanceforbidden romanceblack cat heroine

7 tropes in common

Cover of Terra Feliz: Vanity

Terra Feliz: Vanity

Ginny Bryce

historical romance
(71)

Married to a stranger, Madeleine finds forbidden love on a remote island — but danger closes in from all sides.

forbidden romancewallflower heroine

5 tropes in common

Cover of Stranger in My Arms

Stranger in My Arms

Lisa Kleypas

historical romance
(15k)

Her cold husband was lost at sea — but the warm, passionate man who returned may not be him at all.

opposites attractwallflower heroine

7 tropes in common

Cover of The Charm School (Calhoun Chronicles #1)

The Charm School (Calhoun Chronicles #1)

Susan Wiggs

historical romanceThe Calhoun Chronicles #1
(4k)

A wallflower stowaway and a brooding sea captain sailing to Rio — taught by his crew to win his heart.

opposites attractwallflower heroine

6 tropes in common

Cover of The Scarlet Pimpernel

The Scarlet Pimpernel

Emmuska Orczy

historical romanceThe Scarlet Pimpernel (chronological order) #1
(142k)

A dashing English spy hides his heroic identity from his own wife — who is spying on him for France.

forbidden romanceopposites attractblack cat heroine

6 tropes in common

Cover of Infamous

Infamous

Lex Croucher

historical romance
(6k)

An aspiring writer escapes to a Gothic estate of hedonists — and discovers feelings she can't name.

forbidden romanceopposites attractblack cat heroine

7 tropes in common

Cover of The Masqueraders

The Masqueraders

Georgette Heyer

historical romance
(10k)

A woman disguised as a man must hide her heart — and her identity — in Georgian England's treacherous political intrigue

forbidden romanceopposites attractwallflower heroine

5 tropes in common

Cover of Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold

Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold

Ellen O'Connell

historical romance
(13k)

Found alone together in 1885 Colorado, an outcast rancher and a spinster must decide if a forced marriage can become rea

opposites attractwallflower heroine

5 tropes in common

Cover of The Lion's Lady (Crown's Spies, #1)

The Lion's Lady (Crown's Spies, #1)

Julie Garwood

historical romanceCrown's Spies #1
(26k)

An arrogant English lord pursues a mysterious beauty hiding a dangerous secret from her wild past.

forbidden romanceopposites attractblack cat heroine

7 tropes in common

Cover of Far From the Madding Crowd

Far From the Madding Crowd

Thomas Hardy

historical romanceMacmillan Readers
(168k)

A fiercely independent Victorian farmer must choose between three very different suitors — with devastating consequences

opposites attractwallflower heroine

6 tropes in common

Cover of Always to Remember

Always to Remember

Lorraine Heath

historical romance
(3k)

A man branded a traitor finds unexpected acceptance from the woman who hires him to honour the soldiers he refused to fi

opposites attractwallflower heroine

5 tropes in common

Cover of The Midnight Prince

The Midnight Prince

Angie Grigaliunas

young adult romance
(990)

A fae prince and his half-human ex discover their breakup was a lie — with days left before he must choose a bride.

fae romanceforbidden romancewallflower heroine

7 tropes in common