A captivating queer fantasy romance filled with Regency charm and magical intrigue.
Once more, fairy trouble finds its way into Regency England.
The Caesar family, balancing on a fine social line in 1815 London, is welcome at many gatherings thanks to Lady Mary, the daughter of an earl. Yet, they’re also kept at a polite distance due to her husband’s status as a Senegalese freeman. This leaves the family’s three young adult children navigating a complex society. The eldest son, Mr. Caesar, feels pressure to settle down and find a career but has no interest—he’s a dandy and prefers the company of men. Generally, he avoids attention, but he stirs up trouble after punching a major for insulting his elder sister, Miss Caesar. Shortly after, Miss Caesar strikes a deal with a fairy that transforms her into the famed “Beauty Incomparable,” turning the family into the talk of London. Amid this upheaval, Mr. Caesar repeatedly encounters Captain Orestes James, a Black man who lives openly alongside his loyal
band of soldiers, the Irregulars. This relationship starts to reshape Mr. Caesar’s view of his own life’s possibilities.
Narrating this vibrant tale is none other than Robin Goodfellow, still exiled from Oberon’s court and none too thrilled to document yet another saga of mortal foolishness to make ends meet. As in Hall’s Mortal Follies (2023), Robin’s sardonic and whimsical commentary frames a story that balances lightness and depth. Although Robin dismisses “the vagaries of mortal physicality,” sparks of chemistry flicker between Mr. Caesar and Captain James, while the grand narrative, rich with mythology, detailed scenes, and encounters with the Fairy Court, often takes center stage.
A bewitching queer fantasy romance that enchants on multiple levels.
