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Cover of Half a Soul (Regency Faerie Tales, #1)

Half a Soul (Regency Faerie Tales, #1)

by Olivia Atwater

🌶️🌶️mild·Regency Faerie Tales #1·✓ Series Complete
4.0 on MoodReads (1 rating)4.0 on Goodreads (80,473)

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Ending

reveal ending

Why Read This?The one-sentence sell. What do you get for showing up to this book, even when it's hard?

Atwater blends Regency manners with fae mischief in a way that feels effortlessly charming. Dora is neurodivergent-coded through her curse—she cannot feel fear or embarrassment—and Elias is the grumpiest sorcerer in England. Their slow-building connection is tender without being saccharine, and the social commentary on poverty and workhouses gives the story unexpected depth.

Synopsis

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!

book details below may contain spoilers. some hidden

At a Glance

Book 1 of the Regency Faerie Tales trilogy. Dora lost half her soul to a faerie as a child, leaving her unable to feel fear or embarrassment—a neurodivergent-coded curse that makes her a delightful social wildcard in Regency London. The romance with the grumpy Lord Sorcier Elias Wilder is sweet and slow. Often pitched as Bridgerton meets Howl's Moving Castle. Low-stakes cozy fantasy with surprising social commentary on poverty and workhouses.

trope onetrope twotrope threetrope four

Book Details

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Goodreads RatingThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.

4.04 ★ (80.5k)

Page CountHow long the commitment is.

305 pages

PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.

2020

Primary GenreWhat type of book this is. Romance? Fantasy? A 400-page therapy session disguised as a thriller?

Cozy Fantasy

PairingWho's falling in love? The gender makeup of your main romance. Helps you find your specific flavor of love story.

M/F

POVWhose head are you in? First person = deep in the feels. Third = watching from above. Dual = emotional whiplash (affectionate).

Third Person

Romance PacingHow long until they kiss? Slow burn = 300 pages of tension. Insta-love = page 12 and it's already chaos.

Slow Burn

CliffhangerEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.

reveal ending

AudiobookCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

AvailableCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

Yes

FormatHow fancy is the audio? Standard = one narrator. Full cast = theater kids went off. GraphicAudio = a MoViE iN yOuR mInD.

Single Narrator (female)

NarratorThe voice in your ears.

Madeleine Leslay

Narrator Count

Single

TropesPlot devices and story situations that drive the romance. These are the circumstances that throw characters together or create conflict, not how they personally relate.

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
beauty and the beastcursed love interestfairytale retellingforced proximity
RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

Mood & Vibe

MoodWhat you felt reading this. Swoony? Gutted? Deliciously unhinged? The emotional fingerprint.

cozyheartwarminghopefulwhimsicalromanticmagicalplayful

Writing StyleHow the author writes - prose style, dialogue approach, and narrative voice. This is about craft and delivery, not emotional effect.

whimsicalwarmwittyconversationallighthearted

Story PacingDoes the story sprint or saunter? Fast = you'll miss sleep. Slow = you'll savor every word. Medium = balanced chaos.

medium

Emotional WeightHow much are you gonna cry? Light = fun feels. Moderate = real stakes. Heavy = bring tissues. Devastating = call your therapist.

light

Energy RequiredCan you read this on a Tuesday after work, or do you need a full Saturday and three cups of coffee? Low/Medium/High.

low

VibesOne perfect sentence that captures the essence. Like: 'Fae politics meets forbidden romance with zero chill.'

comfort read vibesBridgerton meets Howl's Moving Castlecottagecore magic

Characters

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

FMC ArchetypeWho is she? The female main character's core identity/role. Assassin? Healer? General Badass?

wallflowerinnocent / shelteredsoft/gentle

MMC ArchetypeWho is he? The male main character's core identity/role. Your exact flavor of book boyfriend.

grumpy protectorsecretly softdark/tortured soulscholar/intellectual

Relationship DynamicsThe interpersonal dynamic between the main characters. How do they relate to each other? This is about character energy and connection style, not plot situations.

grumpy sunshinemutual piningslow burnintellectual connection

Spice Details 🌶️

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
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Spice Level 2

Spice StyleNot just how much spice, but what kind. Emotional intimacy? Explicit but vanilla? Plot-driven heat? Know your flavor.

closed door

Getting SteamyGentle kinks. Fun but nothing too crazy. The appetizer, so to speak.

None

Bringing the HeatFor those who know exactly what they came for. This is where you find your exact brand of chaos. The good stuff.

None
Browse more books by spice level →
This stuff might hit different. No shame in needing to know what's coming. (6)▼
spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
child abuse (referenced)deathkidnappingabandonmentbullyingblood
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World & Setting

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World TypeWhat kind of world are you stepping into? High fantasy = full secondary world. Urban fantasy = magic in modern cities. Portal = starts here, goes there.

regency/victorianlow fantasy / secret magic

Primary SettingWhere does the story physically take place? Court intrigue = palace. Dark academia = campus. Cozy witch vibes = small town. This is about location, not world rules.

manor house / estatebig city / metropolis

Fantasy CreaturesWhat supernatural beings populate this world? Fae courts, vampire covens, dragon riders, or just regular humans doing their best.

fae

RepresentationIdentity representation in the book. LGBTQ+, race/ethnicity, disability, neurodivergence, body type, age and more.

neurodivergent MC

Reading Context

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Emotional PayoffWhat you get for showing up. The catharsis, the growth, the 'I'm a different person now' moment. This is why the hard books are worth it.

romantic fulfillmentfeel-goodcomfort reread materialthe swoon

Best Time of YearSeasonal mood rings for books. Summer romance reads different than winter gothic.

spring

When & Where to ReadContext matters. Some books are Beach Trip energy, others are 3am Bedtime spiral-reads. Trust.

cozy eveningbedtimepalate cleanser readrainy weekendlazy Sunday

Regency Faerie Tales

Half a Soul (Regency Faerie Tales, #1)

#1 Half a Soul (Regency Faerie Tales, #1)

Ten Thousand Stitches (Regency Faerie Tales, #2)

#2 Ten Thousand Stitches (Regency Faerie Tales, #2)

Longshadow

#3 Longshadow

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Quick Facts

Spice LevelThe heat scale. 0=wholesome, 1=kisses, 2=fade-to-black, 3=tasteful spice, 4=explicit, 5=you need a cold shower. Know thyself.🌶️🌶️mild
PagesHow long the commitment is.305
PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.2020
GoodreadsThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.4.04 ★ (80.5k)
EndingEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.reveal ending

SeriesThe series this book belongs to and where it falls in the reading order.

Regency Faerie Tales #1
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