A lovely soothing gem of a book - this is for anyone who’s ever read regency romance novels and enjoyed them but also thought, but what if there was just a bit more exploration of class inequality, and also a dash of Faerie mayhem, and maybe a neurodivergent character as well?

"Half a Soul" by Olivia Atwater is a delightful and charming historical fantasy novel that is sure to captivate readers with its engaging characters and enchanting world-building.

Set in Victorian England, the novel follows the adventures of Dora, a young woman who was born with only half a soul. When she accidentally discovers the existence of magic, she embarks on a journey to learn more about it, only to discover a dark conspiracy that threatens the world as she knows it.

Atwater's writing is whimsical and witty, with vivid descriptions that bring the world of the story to life. The characters are well-drawn and endearing, with Dora serving as a plucky and determined protagonist who defies societal norms to pursue her dreams.

The novel also explores themes of identity, acceptance, and the power of love, adding depth and resonance to the story. The magical elements of the novel are seamlessly integrated into the historical setting, creating a unique and immersive reading experience.

Overall, "Half a Soul" is a delightful and heartwarming read that is sure to appeal to fans of both historical fiction and fantasy. While the pacing may be slow for some readers, the charming characters and enchanting world-building make this book a must-read for anyone looking for a cozy and uplifting read.

I really enjoyed this sweet diversion and start of a series. A short and accessible period fairy tale. The audiobook is nicely narrated.

This book description had me at the comparison to both Pride and Prejudice and Howl’s Moving Castle. Historical fantasy romance is my jam and I’m sure there are many readers out there who love this brand of the fantastic, sweet and swoony.

Half a Soul pushed so many of my buttons in the best way. I love a good historical romance, and when you throw any element of fantasy romance in a book, too? You have my attention. Half a Soul had been recommended to me about a million times recently, by fantastic reviews written by other bloggers, to people just basically shoving the book in my face going, YOU WOULD REALLY LIKE THIS, I PROMISE. Well, you were right, people.

You were right.

I thoroughly enjoyed Half a Soul, and have plans to continue right along on to the next book in the series. How could I not, when this one was so good? I adored Dora, and her practicality, and complete disregard for the societal rules. She did what she wanted to, and rarely let anyone else make her feel bad about it. (I guess that’s a pro to having half a soul? You don’t really care what anyone else thinks.) Vanessa, Dora’s cousin, bothered me a bit as she was so very concerned about fixing Dora, instead of loving her for who she was. But it was Elias that I loved most of all.

Elias is the Lord Sorcier, a young man who was so very Angry with a capital A at society. I loved him. He was uncouth, he was mean, a tiny bit cruel, and well, he was so different than any other romantic hero I’d ever read before. And beneath all that rough, gruff exterior, well, Elias was spending his time trying to help the poorest, most unfortunate children. He is not a bad man, the complete opposite, in fact.

I loved watching these two navigate their blossoming relationship. Neither one of them really let the other get away with anything, which I really liked. Elias and Dora were perfect for each other. Four stars because there was just a little something missing. I’m not sure what, but there you go.

The perpetual allure of the Regency era can be chalked up to many things, including its links to Jane Austen, the lengthy careers of writers like Georgette Heyer and Marion Chesney, and the inherent eroticism of absolutely nobody ever getting to bone. I believe the latter is the reason Barbara Cartland gave for writing so many Regency romances. (Do not fact-check this.) It’s a particularly elegant fit for romance, which, more than any other genre, depends upon clearly defined rules. Likewise, the Regency elite—or at least the version of them that survives in popular memory—were closely bound by rules of conduct, modesty and virtue. By dint of a book being set in the Regency, the reader already knows many of the beats it will follow; by dint of its being a romance, we know that the central characters will fall in love and live happily ever after. When the ending is a foregone conclusion, the pleasure lies in the iteration.

Romance and SFF made for uneasy bedfellows, until they didn’t. Paranormal romance has long been a robust presence in the romance genre (JD Robb’s In Death series has been cited as the longest-running current SFF series), but SFF has tended to view kissing books with gendered suspicion. We’re currently witnessing an explosion of speculative romance, as editors at major SFF publishing houses take on authors whose voracious love of both genres shines through in their work (Tasha Suri, Jessie Mihalik, Freya Marske, too many to name!), and fantasy and SF romance by both professional and self-published authors flourish on BookTok.

Olivia Atwater’s endearing debut novel, Half a Soul, sits comfortably within the traditions of the Regency romance, while also drawing on fantasy classics like Sorcery and Cecelia and Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. Its heroine, Dora Ettings, is not a whole woman. An unlucky childhood encounter with a faerie lord ended by his taking half of Dora’s soul, and he’s only foiled from taking the rest by the bravery and quick stabbing action of Dora’s cousin Vanessa. As a result, the volume is turned down on Dora’s emotions, such that she can never quite make herself care about the rules, or about the expected, appropriate way to conduct herself in company. Where the lovely and agreeable Vanessa puts people at their ease, Dora unsettles them, more interested in following the idiosyncratic trail of her own thoughts than in catering sweetly to the interests of the men of the ton.

As the book continues, Dora becomes aware of the brutal effects of economic inequality (on white people), and it doesn’t even require several hours of doomscrolling through pictures from the 2022 Met Gala (fictional example definitely not drawn from real life). She’s thrown into the path of the bad-tempered Lord Sorcier, Elias Wilder, through the combined machinations of her cousin, who wants England’s most powerful magician to cure Dora’s soul problem, and her older chaperones, who want her to marry Albert, the third son of Lady Carroway, in order to give Vanessa a chance at the eldest.

As it happens, Albert is the Lord Sorcier’s best friend, and Dora is soon swept away by the mystery of a sleeping sickness that is plaguing the impoverished children of London. The Lord Sorcier, whom Dora is soon comfortably calling Elias, won’t rest until he finds the cause for the illness and puts an end to it. Having once seen the condition in which the kids are living, Dora can’t go back to her comfortably upper-crust life. Like Sondheim’s Red Riding Hood, she cannot unknow, once learned, the lesson that “nice is different than good.”

Though unique in her un-ensoulment, Dora’s inability to fit in places her squarely within the tradition of one of the genre’s most beloved stock figures: the misfit heroine. From Georgette Heyer’s Sophy Stanton-Lacy to Julia Quinn’s Eloise Bridgerton to Zen Cho’s Prunella Gentleman, the misfit heroine imbues a modern sensibility into an era of rigid rules of propriety. When Eloise Bridgerton gets scolded for being a bluestocking, the story nudges the reader/viewer knowingly, reminding us that it, and we, know better. Eloise can, of course, take a break from discussing the radical pamphlet trade with hot proletariats when her family comes under threat. Dora’s isn’t a misfit because she’s rebelling; she’s a misfit because of a faerie curse. If Elias can find a way to lift the curse, social normalcy is—at least theoretically—within her reach.

Familiar tropes of the Regency romance genre are sprinkled lightly with faerie dust, and the book’s fantasy elements serve more to enhance its central metaphors than to break new ground. Dora’s faerie-created oddness evokes neurodivergence, both in her own feeling that she is different and in the disapproving, even ableist, responses she gets from those around her. An elderly suitor of Vanessa’s berates her furiously for raising a conversation topic that’s not Regency sitting room-appropriate (what would happen if you bred a horse with a dolphin?), and Dora quickly starts to mimic her cousin’s trembling lips and beseechingly clasped hands, as she herself has no idea how she’s supposed to feel or behave in response to his angry outburst. Even when she does have the “correct” emotional response (gratitude when someone helps her, dread when she sees a frightening vision in a scrying mirror), she struggles to express those emotions in ways that other people find believable.

Elias, for all his brusqueness and poor temper, is an exception. Dora quickly learns that she does not need to perform her emotions for him to some standard she’s never able to meet. When she says she’s grateful for his help, he believes her. “It may be true that you only have half a soul,” he tells her, “but that does not make you half a person.” Shunted into the position of outsider by the magic that has touched their lives, Elias and Dora are able to spot the ways in which the society that has failed them continues to fail others as well. They worry themselves into knots about the sick children, while polite society doesn’t give a damn. Like her many literary forebears, Dora Ettings offers a moral sleight of hand, for her subversion of the norms of her own society serves ultimately, and primarily, to reinforce the assumed morality of the reader. Glimpsed through Dora’s indignant eyes, the responses of other characters to the sick workhouse children signal to the reader which characters will receive happy endings as a reward for their goodness and which we can safely write off as products of their class and era.

Half a Soul’s best scene comes near the book’s end. Dora has been roped into attending a ball given by the faerie lord who stole half her soul in childhood, leaving her a little odd and a lot unconventional, particularly in the way she experiences and expresses emotion. As it turns out, Lord Hollowvale has a particular fondness for English society and has modeled his ball by what he imagines the rules of that society to be. For instance, the ball’s attendees are invisible to Dora until she has been specifically introduced to them, because “it would not do for you to see them until you have formally made their acquaintance.” Nor can she look directly at the faces of anyone she dances with. If she does, she’ll have to marry them.

Despite Dora’s protests that “that is not how British etiquette works at all,” the faerie ball provides a nearer analogue to elite Regency society than she expects. The rules of both realms are arbitrary, capricious, and cruel, taking no account of the convenience, comfort, or even survival of those ensnared in them. Atwater cleverly spoofs the very genre she’s participating in, briefly giving her misfit heroine the expertise in matters of etiquette, only to reveal that it does little good to know the rules when those rules are invented and enforced by callous monsters.

Too, Atwater uses this scene to poke affectionate fun at her readers. Over decades, romance readers have created our own fanon version of Regency society. What we believe to be true of the Regency arises less from history books and more from story books, a funhouse mirror depiction of the ways wealthy English people occupied their time in the early nineteenth century. We are confident in what we think we know, but we are mostly—though for less sinister purposes than Lord Hollowvale—just entertaining ourselves.

This shared fantasy of the Regency may unsettle the era’s gender expectations, but it often leaves other axes of power and oppression untouched. With some notable exceptions, the Regency romance has primarily catered to straight white able-bodied cis women, and that expected audience is reflected in the scope of the typical misfit heroine’s discomforts. Half a Soul is already doing different work than many of its predecessors (e.g., Loretta Chase’s classic Lord of Scoundrels or others in its tradition), by presenting us with a neurodivergent protagonist. Dora’s different because her brain works differently. The marginalization she faces points up the injustice of patriarchal gender roles, certainly, but also the unwillingness of Regency society to accommodate disability and difference.

Yet even as Atwater grapples with ableism, sexism, and economic inequality, racism and empire remain invisible. The limitations of the misfit heroine’s power to critique are obvious after you’ve witnessed a few racist backlashes to period pieces that had the temerity to address their critiques to race rather than gender roles (looking at you, Sanditon fandom). That daughters should not be auctioned off to the highest bidder, or that the rich should be giving more of their time and attention to social reform than to banquets, is squarely within Dora’s remit. That every aristocrat at Dora’s parties has almost certainly acquired his wealth through extractive imperialism and should hastily divest is far riskier to address. The edifice of the genre, with its balls and marriage marts and extravagantly described dresses, depends on the wealth of the elite, and it’s a rare historical romance that acknowledges the rotten foundation of that wealth, let alone permits its characters to walk away. (Cat Sebastian’s The Queer Principles of Kit Webb, in which the duke recognizes the injustice of his wealth and title and chooses to divest from both, is a rare exception.)

As uneasy as the misfit heroine feels in her milieu, she rarely chooses to walk away from Omelas. Dora learns, predictably, that she need not fit herself into the Procrustean bed of Regency snottiness, but her recourse is not to leave it behind. Rather, she manages, as the misfit heroine so often does, to get in with a better, kinder set of rich people. The epilogue to Half a Soul emphasizes the unassailable and permanent social safety enjoyed forever after by Dora, Elias, and everyone they care about. The reward for Dora’s bravery, determination, and goodness is the love of a man who adores her exactly as she is, and the ability to absent herself from those whose malice has hemmed her in for so much of her life.

Perhaps that’s all any of us can ask.

(Tune in next time to discover: It’s NOT all any of us can ask!)

Some books come around right at the exact moment that you need them, and this was one of those books exactly. I always love the Regency stories that come paired with a twist of some kind, a change to the world that breaks up the typical mold, and it's entirely accurate to call this a faerie tale — not just because the realm of faerie actually exists, but how magic is blended through a world that's filled with the familiar society rules and traditions. The relationship between Dora and Elias is SO sweet, in part because he's attracted to her because of her offbeat personality (a result of half her soul being plucked from her when she was young) and in part because he's the one who can cut through the dullness with how she experiences the world to nestle deep down in a heart that still exists. A wonderful fairy tale story, and I can't wait to read the rest of this series as it drops.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

If I had to think of one way to describe Half a Soul, it would be Howl’s Moving Castle meets Pride and Prejudice, which, honestly, is one of the best combinations in existence. It’s a Regency fantasy about a woman missing half her soul and emotions, and a foul-tempered, stressed-out sorcerer.

Half A Soul follows Theodora, ‘Dora’ for short, as she lives through life with only half a soul—part of it having been stolen by an elf lord. She runs into the brusque and bitter Lord Sorcier who, in the end, decides to help Dora with her odd affliction, leading to many adventures and battles of wit. To make matters worse, Dora’s aunt has schemes up her sleeves for setting up Dora and her cousin, Vanessa, with prospective suitors. But Dora isn’t going down without fight, stirring up trouble whenever she can.

I absolutely love Dora. While she isn’t as emotional as other characters, it makes her a curious character. And while she may not be able to feel things like normal ladies, her sense of humour hasn’t been affected one bit. I love how so much of her personality is blamed on her curse when I think that it’s just her. The way that she looked at and described her emotions was fascinating and gave the story such a unique perspective. She’s definitely one of the more well-written protagonists. At points she gives off some serious Sophie from Howl’s Moving Castle vibes which is amazing.

The Lord Sorcerer, Elias, is another fun character. At first, he seems like he’s just like Howl, with his flashy garb and purposefully off-putting personality, but he slowly grows into his own person, with a little more of Mr. Darcy’s awkwardness and an extra flair that is all Elias’s own. Both Dora and Elias spend most of the story searching for clues on her past and trying to find the cause of a mysterious illness that is sweeping the city. Throughout all of this, their relationship blossoms in a truly organic fashion that leaves the reader completely enamoured.

Much like a Jane Austen classic, the plot surrounds the plans and schemes of the mothers trying to see their daughters and sons married off to respectable members of society. However, it takes its own spin, with magic and fairies. And while it does have magic, the story doesn’t shy away from the darker side of things, like the conditions of poor houses and the horrors of war, without giving the story too dark of an edge. With light worldbuilding that doesn’t go too far, it’s an almost believable world set in an alternate France.

The only thing I could really complain about with the book would be that it needed just a tad more editing, the lack of a seriously solid plot, and the fact that it was too short! I needed more! But really, it’s a good story that hits all the right notes for a romance without being overwhelmingly sappy or awkward. The dialogue and the writing style were both amazing and the way it’s written makes this a fast and easy read.

Overall, Half A Soul gets a 9/10 from me for being the perfect kind of romantic escapism with a dash of magic and a whole lot of wit.

I didn’t know about this book until Orbit put it on my radar. I looked up the blurb and thought it sounded very interesting. I buddy read this with Julie and I’m so glad we did. I think buddy reads are just the way to go about reading.

Anyways, this was something different, and I enjoyed it. It’s a fairytale/Regency/fantasy romance. There’s kind of a lot going on but it’s not hard to follow at all. In my opinion, it reads more like a YA than an adult. The romance is also very clean but an enemies-to-lovers. Although, I think that Elias took it a bit too far at times. It does turn very quickly and then you kind of fall in love with him. Once you start to delve into his character more, his behavior becomes a bit more understandable. There’s a lot going on there and I love where his heart is.

“I cannot help but feel that if we had fewer pleasant-mannered people, then perhaps there would also be fewer of these hideous wars.”

-I HAD TO ADD THIS BECAUSE… TRUTH!
Dora was a character that I’m still not sure I completely connected to. It kind of makes sense since she’s missing the emotional side of her soul. On the other hand, her comebacks and snark are top-notch. The way she doesn’t Elias get away with anything was very entertaining. The romance was very sweet, and I think a lot of people will enjoy that.

The friendships are the stars of the book. We have two close friendships between Dora and Vanessa and Elias and Albert. I loved how much they took care of each other and championed each other. They do hit some snags but the way they make each other better is great to see. I think that’s a great friendship when you can challenge each other and grow. There are many social issues that this book focuses on too.

Speaking of Albert, he still might be my favorite. That’s all.

The plot of this book was a bit disappointing for me. We start this book off great and it’s moving at a fast pace. When we get about halfway is when I started to get more YA vibes. The last 1/3 of the book was too fast and the story was rushed. We get almost no world-building and things just happen too quickly. It was kind of like whiplash. It’s very undeveloped and it would have probably been a five-star read for me, if not for that.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and the characters. I think the plot needed some work, especially that last chunk of the book. I did like it enough to keep going with the series. I love how different it was, and the enemies-to-lovers aspect was done really well.

Many thanks to Orbit for providing me with an e-arc via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

LOVE LOVE LOVE this book. Go buy it!

Such a joy! I love period books, movies, & tv shows. Have been a big Austen/Bronte fan since high school, which was ever so long ago. I recently started reading the Bridgerton novels and I can’t get enough of them. This series though! This one satisfies me by mixing my love of period drama with fantasy novels in a way that I just can’t resist.

It’s charming and sweet, with just enough faerie drama to keep it fresh and lively. Dora is a wonderful character, losing half her soul has not affected her witty temperament but has left her without much of a social filter. She is hilarious, but at the same time you’re also struck with the awareness that her inability to connect with deeper feelings is so very sad for her. As a reader, she’s so easy to love.

There is also more than enough matchmaking, verbal sparring, sumptuous dinners and sparkling ballroom dancing to go around. All in all, I absolutely can’t recommend this book enough. If you like Austen, you’ll love this.

This book was truly delightful, a perfect blend of regency romance and fae lore with a dark twist to it. I loved Dora Ettings as our main protagonist. She's endearing, funny and as irreverent as you want a main character to be in her set of circumstances. I really loved the push and pull between her and Elias as they become quite the unlikely pairing. Their dynamic was a little antagonistic (I wouldn't call it enemies) but develops into a really sweet romance between two regency anti-archetypes and I thought that was clever use of a literary device. The world-building feels so effortless, like it was natural for Bridgerton to include magicians and fae. And these aren't your normal magicians and fae, but a much darker take on them. This is a well-written and very clever book that I enjoyed every moment of and I will definitely be reading future installments!

“I have known many human beings with a full soul to their name who do not have half so much compassion or practicality as you.”
ARC provided by the publisher Orbit Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Half A Soul is the perfect book that mixes elements of fantasy and regency romance fuelled with witty banter, a mysterious plot, and serves the sweetest version of grumpy x dead inside dynamic.

June is the month that kicks off the season for summer and the hottest season for reading. Books that I associate with summer is romance, but for me there needs to be a bit of fantasy. Orbit Books has graciously sent an ARC (Advance Readers Copy) of their newest series acquisition—a historical fae romance that was originally self-pub—Half A Soul by Olivia Atwater.

What made me pick up this book is the blurbs from some of my favorite authors and fellow bloggers. The pitch—”Bridgerton meets Howl’s Moving Castle in this enchanting historical fantasy, where the only thing more meddlesome than faeries is a marriage-minded mother.“—promised a drama filled yet light hearted story. One of my favorite movies and book is Howl’s Moving Castle by Dianna Wynne Jones, even though the movie isn’t an accurate adaptation of the book I still loved it. Bridgerton is also the sensational historical romance that is swooning every viewer and lover of the book series. Seeing these two things combined into one book series, sign me up!

Before I dive into the review I would like to spotlight the beautiful cover for the trilogy designed by Matthew Burne. For returning readers that have read the self published book, the cover is the same as self published book for both the UK and US version republished by Orbit. Half of Soul will be released in June, followed by Ten Thousand Stitches in July, and Long Shadow in August. Join Olivia Atwater’s newsletter to receive a FREE short story titled “The Latch Key”, following Elias Wilder as a father and his daughter, click here.


Source : Orbit Books
Half A Soul is the first book of the Regency Faerie Tales series by Olivia Atwater. It is a fast paced historical fantasy romance set in England that follows a single perspective, Theodora Ettings. Theodora Ettings—Dora—is cursed by a faerie, since then Dora has no sense of emotion unable to feel fear, embarrassment, shame, or any other kind of extreme emotion. Because of this Dora is prone for accidental scandal in Regency England.

Dora’s dear cousin Vanessa, is the epitome of a well mannered young lady and is the gem of the family. This London season it is time for Dora’s aunt to find Vanessa a husband. Therefore, Dora needs to be on her best behaviour to help Vanessa and avoid her overbearing aunt’s ire. Then walks in England’s Lord Sorcier—Elias Wilder—a magician that is infamous for his bad attitude and sharp tongue. The magician is intrigued by Dora’s ‘sickness’ that has robbed her emotions. With the royal sorcier on the case, a strange plague spreading, conspiring mothers determined to marry their children, and everyone’s future on the line; Dora’s hands are full this London season.

“Every fish you throw back into the ocean is a triumph of the idea that human beings can be better. I do my best, every day, to throw at least one fish back into the ocean. I hope that you will join me.”

Half A Soul is pitched to be Bridgerton meets Howl’s Moving Castle, I would like to verify this quite an accurate pitch for the story. Let me explain. The story is set in London, England like any regency romance I’ve read this is a staple background for a historical romance. What gives the Bridgerton vibes is the historical setting of the world, the conspiring mother hens, and the rumour mill of regency London. I understand that any regency romance will have these elements but I am going to give you the twist that is the fae and magic aspect of the world which reminded me of the movie Howl’s Moving Castle.

In Half A Soul magic is an established part of the society but it isn’t something that is taboo nor frowned upon in the world which is similar to how magic is viewed in the movie. Magicians in the world of Half A Soul is viewed as an honourable occupation and integral part of the military. The magic system of the story leans towards the softer side. It is accessible for all readers and isn’t too complex to understand throughout reading the book.

“There is such a thing as evil in this world,” Elias told her quietly. “It does not help to look away from it. It does not even help, necessarily, to look at it.” His fingers brushed through her hair, and she shivered. “But sometimes, when you cannot force the world to come to its senses, you must settle only for wiping away some of the small evils in front of you.”

Atwater’s writing is accessible and charming from start to end. The book got me grinning from ear to ear the whole time I was reading. The beats of the story is done with intent that leads readers through a wondrous journey filled with mystery and wholesome interaction between the two main characters. The distinction between characters is reflected in Atwater’s writing to show from Dora’s perspectives how she views the world and people she interacts with. I love that Atwater’s writing is beautiful without it being complex or overly written, it is just simple and clear to the point.

The core of Half A Soul are the characters. Though the story isn’t fully character driven it is equally balanced with the plot. The main characters of this story are Dora and Elias. The chemistry between Dora and Elias is electrifying, soft, and sometimes hilarious. The banter between these two flows naturally throughout the story. They are both beautifully fleshed out and jumps out of the page.

Dora is a wonderful main character that has her fair share struggles with not being able to feel emotions as strongly as a normal human does. Yet Dora discovers that she can feel emotion and loved just the way she is. Dora’s character development is noticeable as she interacts with more people that listens to her and doesn’t shame her for being herself. With each encounter she becomes more confident, happier, and overall unapologetically Dora.

Elias is the leading man in the story, a prickly magician that has his own eccentricities when it comes to interacting with humans. He is the perfect counter part to Dora’s indifference and straightforwardness because he is practical, precise, and isn’t shy to speak his mind. Elias’ characterization is executed wonderfully and his wit really jumps out of the page. What I love about Elias is how he is unapologetically himself in every way and he gives a strong front to protect the people that matter to him. I had hoped for Elias to perform more magic so hopefully in the sequels we can see more magician Elias.

“He has asked me before how the world can be so heartless. It is this dastardly need to remain calm and composed and polite that has left us all feeling so alone.”

In a way from their Dora and Elias’ first encounter readers can see their spark, even though its faint there is potential for it to be a bright flame. The romance is very subtle and isn’t as aggressive as other romance books I read. This is what I love about Half A Soul is how the main characters slowly gravitate towards each other, growing, and coming to that satisfying moment of realization that they are in love.

There are other supporting characters such as Vanessa—Dora’s cousin, Albert—Elias’ best friend, the mother hens, and many others that added another layer to the story. These characters made short appearances but their personalities stood out, distinct, and memorable. They contributed a lot in giving support to both main characters for them to be together and loving them for who they are.


Final thoughts, Half A Soul is a comforting fantasy romance that is accessible in writing with fast paced plot, lovable characters, and a slow burn romance that is wholesome and sweet. It is the perfect book for readers that want to read something short and cute. Any reader that are looking for a romance that mixes the elements of fantasy into regency romance set in London would love this book in my opinion. It has everything from the fluttery feelings of romantic one liners, subtle touches, and the declarations of love during mortal peril. I highly recommend for anyone to pick up this series because its just such a serotonin boost.

The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

Included as a top pick in bimonthly June New Releases post, which highlights and promotes upcoming releases of the month (link attached)

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Content Notes: [child kidnapping (hide spoiler)]

I have complicated thoughts about the worldbuilding, particularly the magical Regency England AU intersecting with real history. It’s weird how the book smartly discusses aristocratic England’s complicity in mistreating lower classes and yet fails to ever mention England’s evil beyond its shore. Feels like a missed opportunity as the class critique is quite good.

Also: not sure how I feel about the epilogue reveal. It makes sense, but I did go “hmm, I don’t know.”

The ship is very good and I devoured the book in one swoop. Would recommend for fans of Howl’s Moving Castle, Sorcery & Cecelia, and Stephanie Burgis.

Dora fast became a favorite protagonist with her unusual personality thanks to missing half a soul. When she steps into high society London, she’s more than a little out of place with her inability to read typical social cues making her a relatable heroine for anyone who has ever felt awkward or out of place. She’s also whip smart and willing to talk frankly with her company which sets her apart as well. With her cousin determined to fix Dora’s condition, the pair set off to London where she meets Elias. Elias, known as Lord Sorcier through London, is reminiscent of Mr. Darcy and Anthony Bridgerton, but with a temper. He’s fiercely defensive of his beliefs and unwilling to easily bend to the expectations of society much like Dora. The fact he’s also a magician adds a dangerous element to his fascinating character.

Atwater does a wonderful job on her world-building within this tale, so much so I felt transported to this magic infused London in just a few pages. Of course there are fairies, why wouldn’t there be! Her explanations and twists felt effortless and unpredictable as I read, and I’ll admit I was unable to put this book down (did I see 2:30 AM at one point? Yes, I did.) Atwater’s elegant style of writing also lends itself to the Regency era novel, adding an element of charm to the world she created. She bridges the gap of Jane Austen’s style with modern day writing in a brilliant and easy to read way. With an enemies to lovers trope, dangerous fairies about, and social norms questioned at every turn, this is a must read for fantasy and historical fiction lovers.

Blending Fantasy and Romance isn’t easy. It takes a lot of skill to strike that balance. Atwater takes the best of each genre, re-emphasizes those highlights, and leaves the faults. Popular Fae fantasy romances lack the craft, the depth, and the skill of great fantasy romance authors like Olivia Atwater. Where those authors dilute faerie stories into something lacking nuance, Atwater adds perspective to a spellbinding faerie romance. But more importantly, her skills left me feeling that the characters loved each other on such a level that I wanted them to embrace the madness they felt for each other. Love is a layered, spellbinding mystery in Half a Soul.

In an alternate Regency England, manners mix with magic. Theodora Ettings was cursed by a faerie with only half a soul as a young girl. Fear. Embarrassment. Love. Her curse gives her little sense of these things, leading to even more scandalous mishaps. When her cousin’s season starts, Dora enters the secluded, ignorant Ton. Within the shiny ballrooms, she meets the ill-mannered Lord Sorcier, the court magician. When citizens get struck by a magical sickness, Dora’s drawn into the world of faerie.

Atwater pulled me in with this prickly witch girl and the fascinating foul-mouthed, angelic magician who dances with her. Dora could have easily fallen into whimsical but she always maintained a very solid character. She would have been more boring as an over-exhausted whimsical character. Every author seems to make it a rule that faerie and whimsical heroine go together.

Dora’s got a great sense of humor. The deadpan wit in response to Elias’ demonic hatred for all things rich English people like is perfection. What makes their interactions and funny remarks so special is their neurodivergence. The way Elias and Dora react to the world is different. Dora’s uncertainty that she can’t love is relatable. Their mannerisms are very intimately familiar to me. But what I especially like is that two people society decided to dislike found comfort and sweetness in each other.

“I love that you are kind but almost never nice.” They are perfect to me. I wouldn’t change them. I’m enamored of their attitude that ‘everyone else is annoying, the only person I like is you.’

I’m very smitten with Olivia Atwater. She reminded me that the stereotype that we have an empathy gap isn’t true. That difference often makes us even more in touch with feelings and what makes for appropriate responses. Someone shouldn’t be unlikeable because their manners are different. What should be determined is their apathy for others.

Romance, although I love it, has many problems. One stems from historical romance–Regency historical romance. Bridgerton fans will be familiar with this phenomenon. This genre isn’t factual historical fiction. It is more like a potato chip version of historical fiction. Salty, delicious, crunchy. You get the idea. But it’s very out of touch, failing to be self-aware that ‘heroic’ aristocrats more likely encouraged the severe class distinctions, even as they practiced ‘Christian charity.’ Olivia Atwater’s Half a Soul smartly picks at that.

The smoky, sparkly prose of Olivia Atwater has put a lovely little curse on me. The pressing of a cigarette between lips, exhaling in a veil of smoke. Making twinkling stars for Dora. That scene where instead of being soft and quiet about it, he yells all the flowery things Dora wants to hear from him? I fucking loved that part.

When I saw that Half a Soul was a regency era faerie tale, I knew I had to pick it up. I adore reading about the regency era and of course, I love anything with an air of the fantastical about it.

Atwater creates a wonderful alternate world within our own that speaks for itself. The writing is delicately weaved and I felt very much swept away into the dreamy story.

Though Theodora only has half a soul, she isn’t any less dimensional of a character. Whatever she is supposedly lacking by having only half a soul (like, the ability to feel great love and emotion), she makes up with her extreme bravery and a natural sense of caring about the general wellbeing of others. Though she may not feel the full magnitude of what it is to have an overwhelming sense of love for another person, she is a GOOD person and can’t turn away from someone being mistreated. This is quite a message, actually. So often, because humans don’t have an emotional attachment to something, they are able to detach themselves from caring. Then there’s some of us who cannot detach ourselves, who feel every slight against our fellow humans and search for ways that we can make it a greater world for all. I am only now realizing the full scope of this theme throughout this novel – it’s funny how putting your thoughts to writing can do that.

I think it can be easy to overlook this message while you’re reading this book that is beautifully whimsical and charming. That’s one of the things I love about fairytales and fantasy in general. We can have lighthearted, we can have sweet prose, we can have magic and alternate universes… but we can also explore the darkest pieces of humanity and bring awareness to them. With fantasy, we can do this and not feel like we are being burdened by the weight of the world. As in Half a Soul, we can shut the book with a sigh of pleasure and fulfillment, while taking a nugget of wisdom back with us into our lives. Half a Soul was so much more than I expected it to be, and Atwater should be proud of the multi-faceted work she created here.

There’s so much I could delve into here to back up my explanation, but I’d hate to ruin all of the things that make this novel what it is. There’s magic, a humanitarian crisis, faeries that are obsessed with English society, and a whole lot of heart.

Thanks to Orbit for the review copy and thank you to Hachette Audio for an audio copy. The narration by Madeleine Leslay was just as charming as the writing was. She was a perfect match for Half a Soul. She managed to make us feel that part of the soul that Dora was missing while also giving us a glimpse of the emotion that we could tell she was capable of. The narration was entrancing!

The Regency romance with fairies that I’ve always needed in my life. This was so much fun I read it in a single sitting. I mean, I was trapped on a plane at the time but I had a Kindle full of other books and there was no way I was putting this one down. It was addictive and delightful and the romance made my heart sing!

Theodora Ettings, or Dora as she prefers to be called, is not your average young lady as she only has half a soul thanks to a spiteful faerie lord ripping part of it out when she was a child. This has resulted in Dora having an unusually cool head in all situations and well, let’s just say she’s not easily offended because she doesn’t feel too much of anything. When her lovely cousin dashes off to London for the season Dora comes along as her steadfast and loyal friend, not planning to ever find someone to marry. Until of course she comes across the Lord Sorcier, Elias Wilder who’s rude and brash, but who has a shockingly pure, good heart underneath it all and Dora finds that perhaps she could love someone after all.

For me, this was the perfect mix of fantasy and romance without being predictable. Dora isn’t a swooning heroine to be swept off her feet at the first sight of a handsome man. She’s quite unusual compared to the other ladies because she’s simply unflappable, though Dora recognizes that perhaps sometimes she should be offended or upset. The Lord Sorcier, Elias Wilder, is a man well known to be of unpleasant temperament to the lords and ladies he’s forced to socialize amongst. He’s actually a wonderful, caring man who works himself far too hard and on too little sleep in an effort to improve the lives of those society has forgotten. His dearest friend, Albert (a doctor), is the third son of a noble family who served with Elias during the war and he and his family now run orphanages. All in all, the main cast of characters are wonderfully good people even if Elias is prickly most of the time. 

This was a cozy, comfortable read with fairly low stakes and a nice, clean romance. This would be entirely appropriate for younger teen readers since there isn’t any graphic/smutty content, but the appeal is there for any fan of wholesome romance stories! I can’t wait to pick up the second book, Ten Thousand Stitches, which features a new main character and the return of at least one character who made a brief appearance in Half A Soul.

This was a great start to a series of regency-type romances containing a fantastical faerie element. I loved Dora as a character and her interactions with Elias are delightful. Her lack of extreme emotions make her a perfect match for the surly magician who cares so deeply and is frustrated so much by the state of the world. Watching them fall in love while trying to solve the problem of her half a soul along with a strange sleeping plague as well as dealing with the unkindness of some of Dora’s relatives held my interest, and makes me look forward to the next story in this series.

Sometimes a book comes along at the perfect time, when you are in the perfect mood. That is what Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater was for me. If you were watching Bridgerton and thought to yourself, “this would be great, if only there was a touch of magic”, then this is the book for you. This twist on a fairy tale is truly my definition of a comfort read. It was one of those books that just kept me entertained and kept me flipping pages deep into the night. The first word that comes to mind when I think of this regency romance is enchanting. That is the feeling I had throughout every single page. I am so glad that I picked this one up and I cannot wait to read the rest of the series soon. Thank you to the author and publisher for sending an early copy my way. All thoughts and opinions are 100% honest and my own.

Thank you to Orbit Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater is a historical fantasy that is like if Pride and Prejudice had fairies. The story revolves around Dora, whose emotions were stolen by a nefarious faerie. Instead of feeling regular emotions, like happiness, anger, etc. she feels nothing. It's like she has half a soul. One day, she meets Elias, the Lord Socier of England, and he is intrigued by her condition. Can sparks fly between someone arrogant and someone who can't feel anything?

Here is a captivating excerpt from the Prologue, which is a flashback:

"“Do you not know what happens to impolite young children who wander in the woods, firstborn child of Georgina Ettings?” Lord Hollowvale asked Dora in a quiet, dangerous voice.
Dora backed her way slowly towards the creek. “You said you weren’t my mother’s friend,” she told the elf warily. “I have no cause to be polite to strange men who sneak up on me, Lord Hollowvale.”
The elf’s pale hand flashed forward like a serpent, grasping Dora by the neck. She let out a strangled cry, reaching up to claw at his hand with her fingernails – but he was much stronger than he appeared, and there was a cold, inhuman fury to his grip."

Overall, Half a Soul is a lovely blend of historical romance and fantasy. One highlight of this book is the heroine, who is like a breath of fresh air. I love how she doesn't follow protocol because of her condition. It's so original to have a heroine who isn't afraid to go against what society dictates. Another highlight of this book is how hilarious it is. There were moments that were laugh-out-loud funny, which I wasn't expecting when I first started reading this book. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of fantasy in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in June!