One of my favorite elements of historical fantasy set in the Regency is witty dialog.

There is also a tremendous amount of wit crammed into this novel. This change is accomplished in a way that feels true to each of the characters' core motivations. From Elias, the Lord Sorcier, to Albert the charitable physician, to Vanessa, the stunning debutante, Atwater gives us characters who learn and grow and change. But there are plenty of other characters that are every bit as lovingly crafted. As the viewpoint character, Dora obviously receives the lion’s share of the development in this novel. Somehow, Atwater crafts the story in such a way that we empathize and feel an immediate emotional reaction to the situation characters face even while Dora feels these things more distantly. Yet through her eyes, we experience the plight of others, those she already knows well and those she comes to know.

Her lack of reaction gets her into trouble more often than not, and makes her stand out in a culture that values sameness and propriety. Far from being hot-headed, she is nearly the opposite. Dora is among the most interesting characters I’ve encountered, precisely because she experiences most emotions at a distance. Atwater manages this with near flawless precision. I want to feel for them and connect with the emotion they’re feeling, both in terms of growing attraction for one another as well as whatever other struggles the plot of their lives throws at them. I need the story’s paramours to feel real as individuals, and for their relationship to feel believable. Filled with many tropes that will be familiar to fans of regency romance, Half a Soul transports readers to a magic-filled world with just the right blend of familiarity and mystery.įor me, what makes a romance story work best is when the characters are authentic and relatable. Any hope of living a normal life seems dim indeed, until her cousin Vanessa contrives to introduce Dora to society in London. After a chance meeting with a faerie leaves her with only half a soul, Dora Ettings must learn to cope in a life devoid of strong, sharp, immediate emotions. Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater is a delightful fantasy of manners.

Half a soul olivia atwater