A review by erinbookbug
Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater

5.0

Regency Faerie Tales, #1: Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Audience: Teen
Source: Apple Books
Published: 2020

Tags: Setting - Regency Era, Location - London, England, Post-Napoleonic Wars, Magic, Magicians, Fae, Faeries, Curses, Magical Bargains, Divination, Workhouses, The Superficiality of High Society, Magical Plague/Illness, Kidnapping 

Characters: Theodora "Dora" Ettings, Elias Wilder, Albert Lowe, Vanessa Ettings 

Summary: 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.

This is such a good book. I really loved the unique premise and it had a very satisfying ending that felt true to the characters and the story. Dora and Elias are very interesting characters that balance each other really well in the narrative, and the rest of the secondary cast felt grounded within the story.

I really like the way the author wove in the magical elements of the plot. It never felt clunky or out of place which is definitely to be commended when you are adding magic to a world that already exists. I'm a sucker for historical fantasy so this was right up my alley.

10/10 would recommend and will probably read again.

If you liked this book, I recommend:
    - I, Coriander by Sally Gardner
    - A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske
    - Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones.
    - A Breath of Frost by Alyxandra Harvey