It is the year 1815, and Mr. John Caesar is determined to help his sister, Mary, successfully navigate the marriage mart. A high-stakes endeavor at the best of times, this task is made slightly more difficult by his family’s nontraditional background, the pernicious whims of the ton, and the ever-present complication of living in a world full of scheming fairies and capricious gods. 

Despite all that, John knows that his parents wish to see his sister comfortably settled. He also knows that the sooner he sees Mary’s future secured, the sooner he can get his own wish—returning to an aristocratic life of leisure. And as for Mary? Sweet, sensitive Mary just wishes gentlemen would pay as much attention to her as they do to her younger sister. 

When Mary’s all-too-literal wish puts her squarely in the sights of a malicious fairy godmother, John sets out to save her. This choice throws him into the path of Captain Orestes James—the handsome up-from-the-ranks hero of Wellington’s armies—and his ragtag band of misfits. Together, John and the captain will venture into a vicious world of fey bargains and sacrificial magic as they draw ever closer to rescuing Mary—and to each other. 

While John is no stranger to casual dalliances with soldiers, until now he’s never expected one to last—or wanted one to. He and the captain come from different worlds, and even if Orestes feels the same, John knows there’s no point in wishing for something more between them.

After all, John has learned firsthand that getting what you wish for can be a dangerous thing. . . .

In Confounding Oaths, Alexis Hall has created an enchanting twist on the typical Regency romance and infused the narrative with a unique voice. John, Orestes and Mary are wonderful protagonists that give a vivid insight into the classism and racism of eighteenth century England but do it with so much panache that it is a delight to read.

One of the things I love the best is the voice of the novel, utilizing the voice of Robin Goodfellow to drive the narrative and point out the flaws of society. It also allows the reader to follow all the interesting characters around and get a better vision of what the fey are up to in this magical story. 

I really enjoyed that we got the classical regency romance but with an LGBTQ twist to the story but infused with magic and a realistic look at society. I loved the twists and turns in fairy magic and the theme of embracing your true self, being there for your family whether biological or found and how love makes us better people. 

If you love atypical romances, fairy magic, and a story that pokes fun at society, this is a delightful and enchanting twist on regency romances. The characters are charming, heroic, and dashing. The narrative is uniquely voiced and I loved every minute of the story.

Rating: 5 out of 5 curses.