There has to be a specific story and setting for me to pick up a romance. Usually it involves some sort of fantasy element or a really fun adventure in the Regency or Victorian eras. Half A Soul delivered on both of those fronts.
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 - a condition which makes her prone to accidental scandal. Dora hopes to be a quiet, sensible wallflower during the London Season - but when the strange, handsome and utterly uncouth Lord Sorcier discovers her condition, she is instead drawn into dangerous and peculiar faerie affairs.
If Dora's reputation can survive both her curse and her sudden connection with the least-liked man in all of high society, then she may yet reclaim her normal place in the world. . . but the longer Dora spends with Elias Wilder, the more she begins to suspect that one may indeed fall in love, even with only half a soul.
Bridgerton meets Howl's Moving Castle in this enchanting historical fantasy, where the only thing more meddlesome than faeries is a marriage-minded mother.
Pick up HALF A SOUL, and be stolen away into Olivia Atwater's charming, magical version of Regency England!Summary from Goodreads
My Review
This was an absolute delight. An intriguing mix of historically-detailed Regency England - including the harsh realities, not just the ‘fantasy’ version - and classically appealing fairies and magic.
Atwater paints the character of Theodora Ettings with a deft brush, the condition of her curse never overshadowing the three-dimensional aspects of character building. Even with her emotions muted, Dora moves through her world with sure steps, carrying the reader through both the delightful and romantic aspects of both Regency England and a Regency England with fairies and the harsh realities of historical Regency England for both the poor and women.
Lord Sorcier, is - dare I say it - ‘book boyfriend’ material, the curmudgeonly wizard who may have a heart of gold if he pauses long enough to examine himself while carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. His role as romantic hero is further cemented by the fact that his faults are not presented as parts of personality that the reader and romantic heroine are forced to contend with forever. The man evolves. The woman evolves. In spite of the historical trappings, a bit of a modern take that does not take away from the Regency setting.
These two together make for a sweet, delightful romance and the plot is not lost within the relationship. The dangers are real, the romance is heady - the balls are sweltering and filled with gossip and the fairies are intensely intriguing and scary - and sometimes funny.
There are more books in the series, and though Dora and Lord Sorcier are no longer main characters, they do make an appearance or are mentioned. This would make a great palate cleanser in between books of darker content or a longer series - or if you simply love to delight in sweet Regency romances with some magic.
Author’s Note: I’ve come to realize that I’m a bit behind in my book reviews, so this week expect a small bundle of book review posts, at least two more, to appear in your inboxes. I have other sorts of content coming, as well as more poems. And of course - I am in the middle of yet another book. Happy Reading!