Fateful

Author: Claudia Gray
Publisher: Harper Teen

Pages: 328

Summary: It is 1912, and young Tess Davis' life is just about to take off.  As the ladies maid to one of England's most prominent upper class families, she has secured passage on the RMS Titanic, with the hopes of starting a life anew in America. Leaving a dark past behind her, she has full intentions of escaping from the Lisle family's servitude and striking out on her own with the money she earned over a number of years.  While caring for Irene, the young lady of the house, Tess first meets the dapper  Alexander Marlowe, a first class steel fortune heir who harbors a dangerous secret.  And he's not the only one.  Something evil lurks in the corridor, something not quite human.  Tess encounters both men within hours of her beginning voyage, one leaving an indelible impression, the other frightening her to her core.  Despite her low status, Alec sees Tess for who she really is, and in return she becomes the guardian of a secret greater than anyone could possibly imagine.  With her life and future on the line and a doomed passage ahead, will Tess break free of her past, or will fate intervene?

Review:  For starters, I am admittedly a huge fan of Claudia Gray.  Ever since I got my hands on a copy of her novel "Evernight", I have started a love affair with her honest voice.  Her latest work does not disappoint.  A blend of two of my favorite things, a paranormal romance and the Titanic, Claudia Gray creates an effortless love story that transcends across time.  Tess is a good natured but brazen servant with aspirations for a life with more purpose.  You find yourself rooting for every small victory she  makes in the war against classes, and cringe as she falters.  But as in all of Claudia's protagonists, she possesses the incredible quality to bounce right back and overcome nearly any obstacle.  She also created a great supporting cast of characters, all lovable and full of depth.  This new approach to the timeless saga that is the Titanic will shake you to your core with it's inventive storyline.  Gray shows a remarkable insight that exudes style and an effortless flow that goes uninterrupted.  It is obvious that she spent countless hours researching the time period, yet Gray doesn't dwell on specifics that would drag the storyline down.  Rather, she opted to focus on the story itself, punctuating it with tidbits of historical significance. It refuses to fade away into time, just like the Titanic itself.  Overall, this epic tale of love and loss on the high seas is one that won't soon be forgotten.