Review: Fateful by Claudia Gray

Title: Fateful
Author: Claudia Gray
Publisher: HarperTeen
Age Group: Young Adult
Category:  Historical Fiction /
                      Paranormal Romance
Release date: September 13th, 2011
Pages: 328 (ARC)
Rating: 5 out of 5
Source: Won

The RMS Titanic is the most luxurious ship ever built, but for eighteen-year-old Tess Davies it’s a prison. Travelling as a maid for the family she has served for years, Tess is trapped in their employ amid painful memories and family secrets.

When she meets Alec, a handsome upper class passenger, Tess falls helplessly in love. But Alec has secrets of his own… and soon Tess is entangled in a dangerous game. A sinister brotherhood that will do anything to induct Alec into their mystical order has followed him onboard. And Tess is now their most powerful pawn.

Tess and Alec fight the dark forces threatening to tear them apart, never realising that they will have to face an even greater peril before the journey is over…

When I decided to read Fateful in order to acknowledge the 100th anniversary since the sinking of the Titanic, I wasn't quite sure what I was getting myself into.  As it turns out, Claudia Gray did a wonderful job of combining these two very different worlds.  The description of the ship even made me feel as though I could have been right there with the characters, so I know that Claudia had to do a bit of research to make it accurate.  Along with the incredible visuals, the author creates an action-filled romance that you don't want to let go of.

Tess is a character that you can emotionally invest in from day one.  She's just a teenage girl who slaves away as a maid for the incredibly ungrateful, upper-class Lisle family with hopes of starting a new life in America.  When she meets Alec, a handsome and seemingly genuine American boy, they both become attached.  It doesn't matter that they're from different social classes; he accepts Tess and when she discovers his darkest secret, she accepts him too.

The story continues strongly at a quick pace, revealing the truths about many characters, even the smaller ones.  You get to see what Alec, Tess, and even members of the Lisle family have gone through over time, which makes it easier to get sucked into the book.  The paranormal aspects of the story were fantastic and believable, adding more drama to the romance.  Of course, what's a paranormal book without an antagonist? Mikhail plays the role of the villain here, quickly making his way to the top of your shit-list as you learn what kind of person he is.

After everything that happens in the story, Alec and Tess turned out to be one of my favorite couples.  Their romance kept going strong, even when there was little hope for survival.  There were even scenes between them that gave me chills.  Of course, you know a book is going to make it to my favorites list when it brings tears to my eyes, which Fateful was surely able to do.  I'm not sure how strong I would have been if I were Tess, so I can definitely say that I admire her.

If you're interested in the Titanic and werewolves- or even just historical fiction and paranormal romance- I wouldn't hesitate in giving this book a try.