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Fateful

by Claudia Gray (Goodreads Author)

3.96 of 5 stars 3.96 · rating details · 5,332 ratings · 1,014 reviews

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 s...more

Hardcover, 328 pages

Published September 13th 2011 by HarperTeen

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Dec 29, 2011 Cait rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I rated this book 3.5 stars, and there are some slight spoilers, but they're not that huge. So read it now........if you DARE!

Let me start off this review by saying that I love love love love love the American cover for this book. It has everything I want: it's got raised lettering, different textures, and it's oh so tantalizingly shiny. I'm seriously obsessed with it right now. Sometimes I just sit in my room for hours just stroking and thinking about the many dirty things I could do with i...more

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Jul 08, 2011 Rebecca rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, historical-fiction, arc, to-review, 2011-ya-hist-fic-challenge

For years, Tess Davies has worked as a maid for the Lisle family at their manor house in England. But she has always dreamed of a better life, and now that she has saved up enough money, she has decided leave her job. And she gets the perfect opportunity when she is chosen to accompany the Lisles on an ocean voyage to New York. A new country is the perfect place to start a new life. And they are sailing on the maiden voyage of the largest, most elegant ship ever built, the RMS Titanic.

Shortly be...more For years, Tess Davies has worked as a maid for the Lisle family at their manor house in England. But she has always dreamed of a better life, and now that she has saved up enough money, she has decided leave her job. And she gets the perfect opportunity when she is chosen to accompany the Lisles on an ocean voyage to New York. A new country is the perfect place to start a new life. And they are sailing on the maiden voyage of the largest, most elegant ship ever built, the RMS Titanic.

Shortly before boarding the ship, Tess meets Alec Marlowe, a handsome first class passenger. He saves her life - then warns her to stay away. Alec clearly has a terrible secret, but Tess is drawn to him despite that. The two quickly find themselves falling in love, but the biggest obstacle to their relationship isn't their different social classes. An evil brotherhood of werewolves is stalking Alec, determined to force him to join them - and now they are after Tess, too. And as if that wasn't enough, they will face a far greater danger before the voyage is over.

I have been fascinated by the story of the Titanic for many years (even before the movie was released) so when I first heard about the plot of Fateful, I was a bit aghast at the idea of a novel about werewolves set on the Titanic. But I'll read just about anything set on the Titanic so I knew I had to read it, and I'm really glad I did, because this book turned out to be really good - it's one of my favorite books I've read recently, and probably my favorite paranormal romance ever. I loved the romance between Tess and Alec. They were adorable together and it was so sweet how protective and caring he was towards her, unlike in some paranormal romances where the guy acts like a jerk because of some supernatural curse that made his life miserable and the poor girl falls in love with him anyway for some reason. If you love historical romance, paranormal romance, or books about the Titanic, I highly recommend Fateful.

Disclosure: Review copy provided by publisher. (less)

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Sep 05, 2011 Kristi-The Book Faery rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: harperteen, werewolves, ya-arc-for-2011, ya-pnr-2011, ya-pub-date-sep-11, atwt, written-reviews, ya-reviewed

THE FAERYS VIEW
Fateful was so much better than I thought it was going to be. Truthfully, I wasn't expecting it to be as thrilling or captivating as it was.
Just goes to show that you can't always 'judge a book by the ship it's about! My original thought was:
"Okay, Faery Chica-here's how it's probably going to go---Doomed Titanic + Lovely yet Helpless Servant Girl + Tortured yet Good-hearted Werewolf = Tragedy on the lower decks that only the werewolf can save the poor servant girl from".

I envisi...more THE FAERYS VIEW
Fateful was so much better than I thought it was going to be. Truthfully, I wasn't expecting it to be as thrilling or captivating as it was.
Just goes to show that you can't always 'judge a book by the ship it's about! My original thought was:
"Okay, Faery Chica-here's how it's probably going to go---Doomed Titanic + Lovely yet Helpless Servant Girl + Tortured yet Good-hearted Werewolf = Tragedy on the lower decks that only the werewolf can save the poor servant girl from".

I envisioned scenes from the movie Titanic only Jack's a bit furrier, Rose is demure and trades in her silk dresses for homespun cotton and an apron all while Celine is singing her heart out in the background [Faery's humming/singing/whistling 'The Heart Must Go On....] FAERY FARTS!!! I'm STILL singing it-Dangnabbit! For the love of FAE, get that song outta me head! Ahem...I digress.... on to the review part...

I couldn't have been more wrong! Fateful was so much more and so different from my original and I admit, close-minded first thoughts. The synopsis doesn't do the book justice; I can only hope that the reviews do.

Tess is a ladies maid for a prevalent family that is leaving London for America via the Titanic. The Lisle family, aside from Irene-the daughter and Tess's responsibility, is arrogant and horrid to those they see as beneath them, which is all but the finest nobility. Tess is a fantastic character, she's had to fight her way through life and at her young age she has decided to start over in America. Tess is compassionate and kind but she also has a stubborn side that combined with her street smarts will make leaving the Lisle's and starting over a challenge she feels confident in making. She's tired of being walked on and knows in her heart that better things await her. It’s a dream that she’s had since hearing of their trip and one that she is determined to make a reality.

When Tess meets Alec aboard the Titanic, they quickly form a bond. Alec is the son of a wealthy business man and it soon becomes apparent that Alec and his father are not only hiding a very big secret but there is one very nasty Mr. Marlowe who can help Alec with this very big secret but only at a very steep price. Mr. Marlowe also has his eye on Tess and will stop at nothing to have her. The characters in Fateful are all wonderfully described; I enjoyed the secondary story's going on amid Tess and Alec’s story along with the description of the Titanic. That era is fascinating to me, it’s sort of a turning point in so many different ways and Ms. Gray captures that beautifully.

Fateful is truly captivating and a page turner! Ms. Gray weaves a tale around the tragic loss of those aboard the Titanic with a spellbinding story of love, loss and betrayal. The ending is absolutely perfect and this is a book that I would recommend to all friends of all ages. It's just that good!
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Dec 09, 2011 Dixie Marie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal-fiction, 2011-to-read, i-own

As if the movie didn't make ne cry enough! This book put me in constant tears near the end! I thought we were gonna have the Titanic movie all over again! Thank God we didn't.

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Sep 14, 2011 Lisa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: harper-collins

Originally posted at Read Me Bookmark Me Love Me

I fell in love with Fateful immediately - with the book and the original concept itself. Supernatural creatures, power struggles and tragic romances…. What's not to like? This novel was written exceptionally well, with a perfect balance of romance and action. Readers are constantly on the lookout for trouble as the sinking of the Titanic is inevitable. Will this standalone novel have a happy ending or be suitably tragic? You won't know until you re...more Originally posted at Read Me Bookmark Me Love Me

I fell in love with Fateful immediately - with the book and the original concept itself. Supernatural creatures, power struggles and tragic romances…. What's not to like? This novel was written exceptionally well, with a perfect balance of romance and action. Readers are constantly on the lookout for trouble as the sinking of the Titanic is inevitable. Will this standalone novel have a happy ending or be suitably tragic? You won't know until you read it!

Tess Davies works for the Lisle family in Southhampton, keeping the eldest daughter, Irene, looking her best whilst dodging the tongue lashings of Lady Regina, the wife of Viscount Lisle. Out of everyone in the family, Irene is the only one who treats Tess with any respect or gratitude, with others such as Layton, the only son and heir, taking advantage of their power and so-called position in the upper class. It was difficult to watch Tess struggle with these insolent characters as she's kind at heart, emotionally strong and innocent. The divide between classes is massive, and it's all you can do to cheer on the workers and hope the Lisle family (sans Irene) fall overboard into the freezing ocean! The friendship between Tess and Irene is very sweet, even more so when you see the sacrifices Irine makes for her maid.

Tess can't help but continuously run into the same two men, Alexander and Mikhail. Mikhail is a predator, dead set on recruiting Alec into the Brotherhood and terrorising Tess for his own twisted pleasure. With his dangerous werewolf curse, Alec initially tries to stay away from Tess but the inexplicable attraction between them grows quickly, with neither able to resist the other. Even as a wolf, Alec finds himself unable to hurt Tess, his human self overpowering the beast. It was exhilarating to see them discover each other and overcome the many obstacles onboard the Titanic. Cruel families, scary stalkers, hungry wolves and icebergs - run!! Sweet, powerful and all-consuming is how I'd describe their relationship. I loved it! They're always there for one another and nothing can tear them apart. You really don't know what to expect from this story. Anything can happen!

I won't spoil the ending, but I will say that it is perfect for this story. Fateful with stay with me for a very long time and I'll only be continuing it in my mind. Stand-alones drive me insane because I always want more! Brilliant writing from Gray - I'm looking forward to more from her!(less)

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Mar 29, 2012 Lea rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: action, alternate-history, awesome-heroine, awesome-world-building, beautiful-writing, couldnt-stop-reading, creative, dark, drama, favorite, gothic, historical-fiction, made-me-cry, paranormal-romance, paranormal, romance, thriller, victorian

Hands down, this book was absolutely incredible.

Fateful was a retelling of Titanic's story combined with a unique paranormal twist-- it had my heart racing and left me speechless by the end. I burst into tears at multiple parts of the story, because it was that good at drawing me in and making me feel emotionally invested in the characters-- even the minor ones. The writing was both beautiful and powerful, and the story, despite being paranormal, was very true-to-life and accurately followed hi...more

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Dec 21, 2011 Oceana Fern {Assorted Insanity} rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-romance-fiction, young-adult, historical-fiction-romance, horror-fiction-romance, guilty-pleasures, four-stars

3.5

I was not expecting to like this book in the least. I hated Ms. Gray's vampire series. But, of course, I was proved wrong.

Totally wrong.

I loved the fact that it took place on the Titanic. I loved the fact Tess wasn't a stupid bitch. *cough NORA BELLA cough* I loved that Alec actually a mysterious guy. I loved the fact it had werewolves on the Titanic. It was a new take on paranormal - paranormal history. How cool is that?

The plot was original and good. The writing - great. This book was such...more

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May 05, 2011 Leah (Jane Speare) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

As soon as that first sentence is read, you're unable to put down this book. It's a very unique genre. One would try to classify it as historical fiction, tantalizingly laced with paranormal aspects. While the story is being told, in present tense, reading it I sometimes forgot that the ship they were on was actually the Titanic, until some critical moments, and then suddenly you remember the big, almost silent part of the plot; the doomed voyage. My hands were literally so sweaty with anticipat...more

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Jun 21, 2011 Rachel rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs

Now, in all fairness, I probably would've given this book four stars were it not for the Titanic setting. I rank it right at four stars story-wise, but the Titanic makes it solidly five. I've been fascinated with the story of the Titanic since I first saw the movie, which was at least ten years ago. Though James Cameron's movie incited my love, I went further and read several books on the ship. Needless to say, anything involving the Titanic catches my eye, though not always my fancy.

I liked the...more

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Sep 10, 2011 Kaysi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: signed

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I am bordering on 4.5 for this book.

Okay, I will be the first to admit it... I had reservations about this book. It had nothing to do with Claudia Gray, or werewolves, or RMS Titanic ... I quite like all of those (well I like Claudia, like reading about werewolves and like the history of the Titanic), I just was not sure about the combination of all those things.

I have always liked Claudia’s writing, but I must say, I liked this one the best. She done an amazing job of using old school language...more I am bordering on 4.5 for this book.

Okay, I will be the first to admit it... I had reservations about this book. It had nothing to do with Claudia Gray, or werewolves, or RMS Titanic ... I quite like all of those (well I like Claudia, like reading about werewolves and like the history of the Titanic), I just was not sure about the combination of all those things.

I have always liked Claudia’s writing, but I must say, I liked this one the best. She done an amazing job of using old school language and combined it with great stories – both real and fictional.

Her story was compelling, and even over a short timeframe, the love and passion was there. There was a good combination of good and bad characters. There was a great display of the relationships and status of that era. I was very impressed with it all!!! Actually, the only thing I could say I was a bit unsure about was the amount of “relationships” between upper and lower class – I know they happened.. I know some of them were love, whilst some were merely using servants for personal pleasure, but I am unsure if it was quite that common (from Tess’s POV, there was her’s, Irene and Ned and somewhat between Myriam and George). For the characters I love loved (Tess, Alec, Mr. Marlowe, Irene, Ned, Myriam, George) there were characters I hated equally as much (Mikhail, Lady Regina, Layton), and when I say hate, you could really hate these characters! I think hating a character is a far stronger compliment to a writer than liking one – but that’s just me.

I loved the characters – even the nasty ones... and some of them were extremely vile! Mickhail was the embodiment of evil, in the monster form, and on the other side, Lady Regina was a monster as well. Tess, whilst knowing her place, has a strong will and will not let go of her dreams... she won’t let her will to be broken. Very rare these days in YA books I liked how Claudia brought the whole werewolf thing in right from the beginning. Some authors drag the “reveal” out a little too much for my liking, but, she chucked it right in there.

Alec, of course, was a great character. I liked how he saved her, then warned her to stay away from him directly after – numerous times. It showed that he does care, and that he is fully aware of how dangerous he is. He didn’t go down the line of being a jerk, which can quite often happen, but he did try to put the distance between them (without watching her sleep at night).

I loved all the detail she put in regarding the Titanic itself, Claudia done a wonderful job of creating the “visual” for the readers. I am also impressed how she blurred the line between fact and fiction. She certainly done her research! And her description of the sinking – how wonderfully yet terrifyingly written. It contained wonderful descriptions of everything from people ignoring the warnings, not enough life-boats, lights going out and the actual breaking of the Titanic. I could clearly see that Alec was going to throw Tess overboard.. and the description of that fall was very vivid in my mind. But I must admit, it was Alec explaining that his dad decided to stay that really got to me.

Now, the main reason I read this book was to see how Claudia would end it (besides the very pretty Australian cover). I mean really, where can she go with it? It’s the Titanic... it sinks, and it can only happen one way!!! Claudia impressed me!. It’s very sad that Irene, Ned, George and Mr. Marlowe did not make it off... but let’s face it... not everyone can survive!!! But I was more than happy to see Mikhail, Lady Regina, Layton stay on board!

Afterwards, I was mainly eager to find out about Mikhail... and besides the very morbid scene where he returns – all I could think was – that means Alec survived! And then my next thought.... oh no.... will this be a series????? Of course I am happy that Tess and Alec get to be together... but there an opportunity for another book, after all, the Brotherhood is still after Alec.... but, the way it ended, I am personally happy to leave it there.

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Sep 13, 2011 Rachel (The Rest Is Still Unwritten) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: i-own, harper-collins-sent, favorites, publisher-sent

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. *Firstly, thank-you to Harper Collins Australia for sending me a copy of this book to review*

Fateful caught me from the beginning. It took me on an incredible journey of love, danger and tragedy. It made my heart soar before breaking it as I knew it eventually would, only to have it heal me once again and leave me with endless hope.
There’s no denying that the story of the Titanic isn’t a powerful one. It has been ever since the beginning, and in this book Claudia Gray creates a tale that transp...more *Firstly, thank-you to Harper Collins Australia for sending me a copy of this book to review*

Fateful caught me from the beginning. It took me on an incredible journey of love, danger and tragedy. It made my heart soar before breaking it as I knew it eventually would, only to have it heal me once again and leave me with endless hope.
There’s no denying that the story of the Titanic isn’t a powerful one. It has been ever since the beginning, and in this book Claudia Gray creates a tale that transports you to another time and place. It’s beautiful and romantic, but hauntingly tragic as events come to pass that we all know are inevitable even before reading this tale.

Going into this book I knew that it would have to end it pain at some point; that many of the characters we met on the ship wouldn’t survive that tragic night, but that didn’t stop me from loving them regardless. Born to a time of high class and wealth, where difference of importance was a common thing, all these characters were captivating and wonderful. Some were well bred, but still kind as we saw with Miss Irene. Others were born to a lower class, yet still strong as individuals and soul as we saw with kind George, sweet Ned, feisty Myriam and honourable Mr Marlowe who loved his son no matter what. Of course there were the cruel ones as we saw with Lady Regina, Layton and Mikhail, but they gave the book a strong foundation and made it seem more realistic to that time. Each and every character had their own story aboard the Titanic and their own past that made them such colourful characters to read about.

Tess was a great lead to read about. She came from humble beginnings, and she was just a normal servant girl from those times who happened to want more from life. She knows her place in life and who she is, but she wanted the freedom that only fleeing her employer could give and believed the Titanic was her ticket to that. One of the things I loved about Tess was that she was so normal; of course she had vulnerabilities and she was scared but she was strong too. I thought she reacted to learning about werewolves with a healthy amount of fear, but she saw them in a good and balanced light over time and none of that changed her growing feelings for Alec.
As for Mr. Alec Marlowe....swoon. What can I say? Born to wealth, he was haunted by what he was now was and the things he did. He’s just the kind of man a girl can dream would sweep her off her feet in those times and days. He was a nobleman, but none of that mattered to him when it came to Tess. He treated those around him who weren’t quite in the same position as he was with respect too. He was sexy and charming and fell completely in love with Tess, eventually making a selfless act that would save her life.

Despite the events of the Titanic, or perhaps even because I knew how it would end, the relationship between Tess and Alec was so romantic! Both were so different, and from different classes, but the sparks between them were beautiful and their relationship was passionate and real. It was refreshing to have Alec’s family support his romance with a woman of a lower class and to have them have his father’s blessing. It was nice not having this as an obstacle for them and instead seeing them face a completely different threat. Tess and Alec connected and had a bond that nothing—not what he was, not difference of status, not even the ocean itself--could break. It was pure and so intense to read about.

I’d be lying if I didn’t mention that some scenes, especially towards the ending of this book, had me very emotional. When you love certain characters and follow them on their journey, only to have it end in such a tragic, be it inevitable way, it’s very sad. I can see the beauty in the way Claudia Gray has written the tale and her characters and I’m so pleased to have read their story.
It was impossible not to get swept up in this intense, passionate tale and I held on through it all; unable to stop reading as the characters found their feet and each other. The pain and sadness of the ending didn’t over power the hope and promise found at the very, very end and it was equal balance happiness and tragedy.

This book is an incredible journey that will draw all number of emotions from readers and will stay with you, long after you turn the last page!
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Jun 02, 2011 Ruth rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: teen, fantasy, romance

It's 1912 and Tess is a poor serving girl who has worked for the noble, but penniless, family of Lisle for years now. Lady Regina Lisle is a cruel snob who has plans to marry off her son and daughter richly, and books passage on HMS Titanic with high hopes of meeting the "right" kind of people. Tess has almost saved enough to leave the Lisles, and as soon as the Titanic reaches New York, she's going to quit, and find a better life in America. But the night before the ship leaves, Tess is almost...more

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Apr 17, 2011 Hayley rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-owned

As I've read only one of Claudia Gray's books (Evernight, which I didn't think all that much of) I was not really expecting to like this as much as I did, particularly when the concept of werewolves on the Titanic is almost as appalling as it is intriguing. However I'm pleased to say that I really enjoyed Fateful and the Titanic was actually the ideal setting for this story.

Beautifully written and well researched, Fateful finds the perfect balance between paranormal, historical fiction and roman...more

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May 13, 2013 Christie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-geography-challenge, 20th-century, dystopian-apocalyptic-disaster-fic, england, historical-fiction, mysteries, paranormal, romance, young-adult

First sentence: "It's not too late to turn back, I tell myself."

There may be minor spoilers so beware if you are someone who hates spoilers so much you can't even read the synopsis of a book.

So I was excited about this book and I really wanted to love it. I mean it's Titanic with werewolves. Unfortunately, it was James Cameron's Titanic with werewolves. Let me explain:

Enter poor little rich girl/boy:

Rose...I mean Alec

Oh but it's different because he turns into this at sunset:

Ok, ok maybe i...more

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Apr 11, 2012 Rebecca ♥ Ash, Jem, Warner ♥ rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, young-adult, romance, paranormal, ebook, shapeshifters, reviewed, standalone

This might be more of a 3.5/5. I'm not a big Claudia Gray fan, but this was better than Evernight. I always feel distanced from her characters. But I cried so much in this! I have always had a soft spot for the Titanic. For as long as I can remember, its just so sad! But I am glad the actual sinking took up a small part of the book compared to the movie 'Titanic', where the sinking pretty much took up the last half of the movie. I wouldnt have been able to deal with that much crying.

The story wa...more

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Mar 08, 2012 Haleema rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: damn-good-writing, cover-marry-me-please, brilliant-story-telling, i-knew-it, a-chunk-of-chocolate, ninja-paced, hello-handsome

To be more accurate, I would like to rate this a 3.5!

Okay, I'm pretty fascinated by the Titanic incident back in 1912. I've researched quite a lot on it. I've watched Titanic 17394840 times (the reason behind it being that it came on HBO so many times). I'm also fascinated by werewolves. So when Gray smashed these two together, I went ballistic.

I was just like...

description

MAD.

Gray did a fantastic job with her research regarding the different classes on the Titanic. She did amazingly well on demonstratin...more

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Oct 28, 2011 Shannon rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviews

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Read #1
Started on September 28, 2011
Finished on October 4, 2011
2.5 stars

READ WITH MY MONICA~

Le sigh. Honestly, I think a part of me was expecting this to be a little cheesy, but with Claudia at the helm (yes, I like the Evernight series, shhhhh), I was hoping maybe it would come out strong in the end.

As you can see, panda was not impressed.

So, let's just go through my grievances by number.

1. Okay, I guess I would consider myself somewhat of a Titanic aficionado. Yes, I like the James Cameron fil...more

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Sep 05, 2011 April rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review, ya, historical-fiction, bea-2011, paranormal

Tess is a maid for the noble Lisle family which is pretty much comprised of horrible people except for the daughter, Irene (not a hurricane FYI). So anyhoo, The Lisles decide to go to American and find Irene a rich husband to save the family, as they are running out of money. Of course, the Lisles book passage on the best ship EVER, the Titanic, and because they are noble they can’t do things for themselves and bring their servants. Tess sees America as a land of opportunity and decides to quit...more

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Jul 13, 2011 Christy (TheReaderBee) added it · review of another edition

Shelves: arcs, read-in-2011

Fateful drew my interest the moment I read the synopsis for the book. Seriously, imagine werewolves on the Titanic. Can you see why I was so interested in seeing how that would play out? I was even more interested in the ending of the book. We all know how that the Titanic had a very tragic ending.

Let’s start off with the characters. Tess Davies is a ladies maid for the Lisle Family, particularly for the daughter, Lady Irene. I liked Tess. She was kind hearted, but still strong willed. She has b...more Fateful drew my interest the moment I read the synopsis for the book. Seriously, imagine werewolves on the Titanic. Can you see why I was so interested in seeing how that would play out? I was even more interested in the ending of the book. We all know how that the Titanic had a very tragic ending.

Let’s start off with the characters. Tess Davies is a ladies maid for the Lisle Family, particularly for the daughter, Lady Irene. I liked Tess. She was kind hearted, but still strong willed. She has big dreams for the future, and she keeps a hold of those dreams throughout the novel. She never gives up on them. I think that’s very admirable. Alec is the son of a wealthy steel magnet, and also, a werewolf. They couldn’t be more wrong for each other, but it works. I love their relationship. Alec is so sweet, caring and very protective of Tess. They are definitely a great couple.

The secondary characters were well written as well. There are ones that I love; Irene, Myriam, Mr. Marlowe, Ned, George. I really loved and enjoyed reading about all of these characters. There are also ones that I love to hate; Mikhail, Lady Regina and Layton. These are characters you can really hate with a passion.

I used to be a huge history buff growing up, and I’ve always loved to read about the Titanic. I love how Ms. Grey wrote her fantasy around the events of the Titanic. It made for a really great read. The storyline was very creative, and was also well paced. I loved the descriptions of the ship, and of the time period. I was really anxious to see how the book was going to end, I just couldn’t imagine it. I was, however, very satisfied with the ending.

As stated in the Authors Notes at the end of the book, Ms. Gray did take a few liberties with the book to make it more dramatic than accurate. Instead of fictionalizing some of the people that were really on the ship, she chose to invent new characters. We do have a scene with one person that was really on the ship, and that is Mr. Andrews, who helped design the Titanic.

Overall, I thought this was a really great read, and it will definitely be a welcome addition to my collection. One note- Try not to think of the movie when you read this. Otherwise, you may have the music from the movie stuck in your head while reading it, as I did.

Happy Reading!

Review Source:
ATW Arc Tours
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Feb 19, 2012 Victoria rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: young adults who love the Titanic and paranormal creatures

Recommended to Victoria by: Teresa

Shelves: cover-i-love, leaves-awesomeness-behind, fantasy, heroines-i-love-and-respect, young-adult, paranormal, annoying-main-characters, books-i-really-like, books-reviewed, best-couples, werewolves

I had always wanted to read Fateful ever since I discovered on Goodreads and read the intriguing blurb. Fateful has the same historical fiction of Titanic and since I love the movie Titanic, I was strongly anticipating for this book and hopeful that it wouln't be disappoiting to me.

Well, Fateful didn't disappoint me one bit. It was such an intriguing story filled with mystery, romance, and has the same elements with Titanic. Fateful was different because it has a special element of paranormal cr...more

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May 22, 2012 Emily rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, fantasy, favorites, historical-fiction, library, love-the-cover, paranormal-romance, paranormal, really-liked, ya-romance, werewolves, young-adult, review, to-own

Wow. Before I read this book I never thought I would like reading about the Titanic, but did Claudia Gray ever prove me wrong.

This book is amazing. The plot was so complex, and the characters were so good. If Claudia Gray had picked a single other historical event and had the same paranormal stuff going on, I don't think it would have worked half as well. The plot was amazing, all the events happening and flowing together and leading up to one another. The way Gray wrote Tess's situation, it was...more

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Sep 07, 2011 Ashley Gafford rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Fateful is a book that you know going in isn’t going to end well for a lot of the characters. You know how the story ends, you know what’s about to happen, but you are powerless to stop it. All you can do is sit back and hope that somehow the story changes or at the very least your favorite characters find a way out of this predicament. And that’s what I was doing the entire time.
I loved Tess. She was strong and determined. She knew what she wanted and was willing to work hard to get it. She did...more

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Dec 23, 2011 Lothfleur rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-supernatural

Fateful est un roman très sympathique à lire, il n’est pas exceptionnel mais il fait passer un moment très agréable. Je ne suis pas une fan de Titanic à la base, mais nous savons tous comment ça finit, alors il y a du potentiel pour les déchirements et ça n’a pas manqué, j’ai versé ma petite larme (noooon)… Aussi, Claudia Gray nous parle de ses recherches à la fin du roman et je n’en doute pas, on s’y croit vraiment, même si je m’attendais à ce que les conditions de la 3e classe soient bien pire...more Fateful est un roman très sympathique à lire, il n’est pas exceptionnel mais il fait passer un moment très agréable. Je ne suis pas une fan de Titanic à la base, mais nous savons tous comment ça finit, alors il y a du potentiel pour les déchirements et ça n’a pas manqué, j’ai versé ma petite larme (noooon)… Aussi, Claudia Gray nous parle de ses recherches à la fin du roman et je n’en doute pas, on s’y croit vraiment, même si je m’attendais à ce que les conditions de la 3e classe soient bien pire que ça à bord du navire.
L’héroïne est une jeune domestique et en dépit de son âge, étant donné l’époque et sa position, Tess est agréablement mature, elle fait tout pour se débrouiller seule, c’est rafraîchissant. C’est une jeune femme qui a soif de liberté, mais qui connaît sa place, on a des pincements au cœur quand elle n’ose pas réagir à certaines injustices au début… Celles envers Miss Irene, qu’elle est chargée d’habiller et coiffer, par exemple, une jeune fille douce dont la mère est du genre marâtre – d’accord, on peut se dire que c’est un peu basique : méchante maman, gentille fille, fils de la haute qui se sent supérieur, mais ça ne m’a absolument pas gênée. En bref, Tess est un personnage très attachant, on la suit avec plaisir.
Mais bon, vous vous en doutez, on est plus passionnés par Alec que par elle… My oh my. Si vous aimez les êtres surnaturels torturés (et beaux), vous allez craquer. Bon, après, on peut le résumer à ça, par contre, même si ça ne m’a pas gênée. C’est le loup-garou qui est paralysé par sa situation (sa nature et le méchant qui le poursuit) et à qui Tess redonne l’envie de vivre, de lutter : elle le sauve, grâce à l’amour. Un peu bateau, mais ça passe. Le cadre permet de donner de la tension supplémentaire à leur histoire et le développement de celle-ci parvient à la rendre plaisante, tendre et belle. L’époque n'y est pas pour rien… ;)(less)

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Sep 19, 2011 Cassandra rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: werewolves-shapeshifters, romance, favorites, own, love-the-cover, swoon-worthy-hero, historical-fiction

Fateful was so,so good. I can't get over how much I fell in love with it. I've always had a love for anything Titanic, documentaries, movies,books it all started when I was in 6th grade, my teacher loved the Titanic and thus it began with my obsession. I knew I had to get my hands on this one as soon as I could! It had the starcrossed lovers, Tess a servent maid and Alec first class very wealthy family, but throw in the fact that Alec is a werewolf and a nasty group of people are hunting him dow...more

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May 24, 2011 Mallory rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is a great book. The romance is addictive, the plot intense (actually, those are interchangeable), and the part that you know is coming hits you in the face like a slap. It will capture your emotions. Well, it is the Titanic (no spoiler there). I really appreciate the historical note by the author at the end too, because some things had to be sacrificed but it's all for the best. The male interest is gentlemanly and heartthrob-y. The protagonist, Tess, is actually pretty tough, not like so...more

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Jan 03, 2012 Kristin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Claudia Gray is such a clever woman. Girl leaves England for America, werewolf onboard that she ends up falling for. And to top it off, they're on the Titanic. She's lovely.

Update: read. Be warned of spoilers. Enter if you dare.
Oh my my my. Let me say I thoroughly devoured this gem. From the moment I heard of this book I knew it was going absolutely a+, and believe me, it didn't fail.
Let's start with the main character. I must have an appreciation for people with the name Tess (Tessa Gray - Will...more

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Jul 04, 2011 Brooke rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

oooooooh Alec <3

Ah, the Titanic...who doesn’t like the Titanic!? FOR REALZZ!?! The movie basically owns my heart annnnd I was super excited when I found out about this book!

Although the actual ship itself took a back seat to all the other drama that went down on board, the book still left me breathless! The Titanic was the perfect back drop for the story! Totally unique! So when werewolves ran rampant (well, just a couple times), third class passengers got rowdy and servants got lippy... the...more oooooooh Alec <3

Ah, the Titanic...who doesn’t like the Titanic!? FOR REALZZ!?! The movie basically owns my heart annnnd I was super excited when I found out about this book!

Although the actual ship itself took a back seat to all the other drama that went down on board, the book still left me breathless! The Titanic was the perfect back drop for the story! Totally unique! So when werewolves ran rampant (well, just a couple times), third class passengers got rowdy and servants got lippy... there was bound to be a few issues. Oh! And on top of all of that...add a sinking ship to the list! Talk about insanity!

As for the characters, Tess and Alec were absolutely darling together! They had this instant spark and I was rooting for them the whole time! Alec...*sighs* he has some of the best hair I have ever read about. I just wanted to run my fingers through it! GAH! He was super, super sexy and kind and didn’t care that Tess was a servant even though he was wealthy as eff! The boy was something else. Literally. DUN DUN DUN...

The secondary characters were fantastic as well! I loved the old ladies who shared a cabin with Tess! They were so adorable! And I also really liked her other cabin mate Myriam! (Once she met George and became less of a snot!) George! Oh, how I wish there was more of him! But alas, something major happened and we didn’t get nearly as much George as I wanted. What was that thing again? Hmmmm....oh, right! The Titanic hits an iceberg! How could I forget!? :P

I thought that the ending was the best part! Not knowing who would survive and what would happen after the ship went down....safe to say I WAS FREAKIN’ OUT!

My only complaints are that I wish there would’ve been more wolf action and more information on The Brotherhood! I feel like the story was more focused on Tess being a servant than on the wolves.

But all in all Fateful was an amazing twist on the Titanic! With a sassy heroine, a handsome hero and a villain who was around every corner, it was suspenseful and thrilling!(less)

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Nov 10, 2011 ~Tina~ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: cover-crazz, own, read-2011, young-adult, wolves-shapeshiftes

I'm a huge fan of Claudia Gray and her Evernight books, but to tell you the truth I was a bit weary about going into this book. A book concept about the Titanic fascinated me since I have always been haunted and charmed by it's story. The idea of werewolves also fascinates me since it's well... werewolves and I'm a paranormal junkie. But. The Titanic and werewolves together? Really?

I shouldn't have been concerned since Gray did a terrific job. This is what storytelling is all about. Being creati...more

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Apr 21, 2013 Paigeewa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I actually went into this book because I thought the premise was so ridiculous: Werewolves on the Titanic. Being a self-proclaimed Titanic fanatic (I mean, it's to the point that when I went to a Titanic exhibit that gave us cards with information about a passenger on the ship, I knew my person survived because, of all people, I got Madeline Astor), I had to read it.

And I actually loved it.

Tess is a great character, she's strong, brave, caring, and sees the good in people. Alec was the same. He...more

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Apr 07, 2013 Kerri rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

I'm not much for gushy love stories, but I wanted to try this because a friend told me, "It's Titanic and werewolves! You'll love it!" I have to admit that the first few chapters kept me reading because there was just enough action and intrigue with the mysterious men that were following/protecting her from some unknown evil. But I just couldn't get past the mooning over the gorgeous guy. Kind of got on my nerves.

Also, I like to read books that I can talk about with my students. This just wasn't...more

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Young Adult Book ...: Final Thoughts...	13	115	Oct 26, 2012 06:57pm
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About Claudia Gray

Claudia Gray is not my real name. I didn't choose a pseudonym because my real name is unpleasant (it isn't), because I'd always dreamed of calling myself this (I haven't) or even because I'm hiding from the remnants of that international diamond-smuggling cartel I smashed in 2003 (Interpol has taken care of them). In short, I took a pseudonym for no real reason whatsoever. Sometimes this is actual...more

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“Nobody else will ever be able to save me if I’m not fighting as hard as I can to save myself.” — 73 people liked it

“You’re strong enough to stand up to anyone. Smart enough to do anything you want. Don’t sell yourself
short; don’t be afraid of what your new life is going to offer. Because I know—if there’s any justice in this
world, good things are going to come to you. Better things than you ever dreamed.” — 48 people liked it

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