Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater Series: Regency Faerie Tales #1
Published by Orbit on April 5, 2022
Genres: Fiction / Fantasy / Historical, Fiction / Fantasy / Romance, Fiction / Fantasy / Urban
Pages: 304
Format: eBook
Source: Amazon
“Whimsical, witty, and brimming over with charm” (India Holton), Olivia Atwater’s delightful debut will transport you to a magical version of Regency England, where the only thing more meddlesome than a fairy is a marriage-minded mother!
It’s difficult to find a husband in Regency England when you’re a young lady with only half a soul.
Ever since she was cursed by a faerie, Theodora Ettings has had no sense of fear or embarrassment—an unfortunate condition that leaves her prone to accidental scandal. Dora hopes to be a quiet, sensible wallflower during the London Season—but when Elias Wilder, the strange, handsome, and utterly ill-mannered Lord Sorcier, discovers her condition, she is instead drawn into peculiar and dangerous faerie affairs.
If her reputation can survive both her curse and her sudden connection with the least-liked man in all high society, then she and her family may yet reclaim their normal place in the world. But the longer Dora spends with Elias, the more she begins to suspect that one may indeed fall in love even with only half a soul.
Praise for Half a Soul
“Whimsical but never frivolous, sweet but not sugary. I loved it.” —Alix E. Harrow
“Delightful. Half a Soul is the definition of a comfort read.” —Hannah Whitten
“I wolfed this down with great pleasure.” —KJ Charles
“This winsome, whimsical fantasy romance sweeps you off your feet.” —Megan Bannen
“Smart and subversive, Half a Soul will ignite your heart—and your hope.” —Shelley Parker-Chan
“A perfect historical fantasy romance: warm, sparkling with magic, dangerous, and delightful.” —Tasha Suri
My Review
I purchased this book back in May with my birthday Kindle Card, and I have just recently gotten around to reading it. I had heard so many things about this book from a few different Booktubers that I watch, and it really piqued my interest. Not only is this book a Regency Faerie Tale, but it is also a closed-door romance, which I really appreciate. If you do not know what a closed-door romance is, basically, it is any intimate scene that happens behind a closed door, so there are no descriptions of what is going on between the characters. Does that make sense? You are probably wondering what this book is about, so let me begin…
Theodora, or Dora for short, is the main character in this book. She is the character with only half a soul. Dora was not born this way but was like any other little girl. One day, however, she was out playing, and a faerie called Lord Hollowvale approached her with the intention of taking her soul. This doesn’t sound very kind I know but he was only taking what he was promised years before Dora was even born. He did not, however, manage to get all of her soul because, lucky for Dora, her cousin Vanessa came in search of her and managed to stab the faerie with a pair of scissors, allowing both of the girls to get away. This, however, left Dora not like herself. One of her eyes changed color, or really the color faded, and her ability to feel her emotions like others was seriously lacking. Her feelings were severely muted.
Years have passed since the day that Dora was cursed, and we see the two cousins as young women getting ready to be presented to society. First off, let’s be real. Dora lives with her aunt, who is not a fan of Dora and has no hopes of finding her a man, so she is more focused on her daughter, Vanessa. Secondly, the only reason why Dora is included in this is because Vanessa loves her so much and can’t handle being away from her. She, in fact, told Dora that she would not marry any man who would not allow Dora to live with them. With that being said, Dora herself does not expect to find a man to marry, but she is all in for helping Vanessa do just that. The girls and aunt head off to London to stay with a friend who has offered to help the aunt find someone suitable for Vanessa. Once they arrive, Dora is dismissed in a way by the aunt and her friend, so she sets off to wander London alone. One such day led to her meeting Albert, a disabled veteran/doctor, and his friend Elias, The King’s Magician. Little does Dora know that these two men will become a big part of her life. The friendship she gains with them and the back-and-forth banter she shares with Elias is lovely.
Albert and his family are well-known in societal circles, and it just so happens his mother is getting ready to throw a ball. Albert is sure to invite his friend Elias and new acquaintance Dora. This invitation changes her aunt’s views on not having hope for Dora getting married. She soon sets her sights on pairing up the good doctor and her niece, not to mention Vanessa, with one of Albert’s brothers. Dora, however, has no intentions of marrying Albert. She is only interested in his friendship. Despite her wishes, her aunt continues to put Dora and Albert together in different situations, and one of those situations is following Albert on his rounds of giving back to the local workhouses. It is then that Dora discovers the plague that has been affecting children, a sleeping sickness that entails them never to wake again. Albert and Elias have been working endlessly to figure out the cause and the cure for this illness and the children affected by it. We watch as Dora steps in to help along with her chaperone, but no cure has been discovered yet.
Throughout this story, we follow these characters, learning about their pasts and watching their friendships grow and romance blossom. We see how one stupid move leads to the discovery of what is really going on with these children, and it changes everything, not just for the children but the characters I have mentioned above. The author has done a great job incorporating regency, historical fiction, and fantasy together for a delightful story. If you are looking for a cozy fantasy, regency, and historical fiction, then please pick this one up. It is book one in a series and a closed-door romance with a truly magical scene that I think would have any woman swooning…I know I would be. I know that I am excited to continue on in this series this year. Is this a book that you are interested in picking up? If so, please let me know, and if you read it, please let me know what you thought of it. Until next time, Reader, Happy Reading.
Trigger Warnings:
- War Scene/Flash Backs
- Neglect
- Mentions of a Parental Death